Peyton Barber has waited three years for a chance to be Auburn’s go-to guy at running back, and if his performance in Auburn’s opening game against Louisville is any indication, his time may finally be here.
Roc Thomas earned the start at running back after a strong showing in fall camp, but after Thomas and fellow running back Jovon Robinson went down with lower body injuries in the first half, Barber got an opportunity to show what he can do.
He took full advantage of the opportunity, rushing for 115 yards on 24 carries, 21 of which came in the second half.
“It meant everything to me,” Barber said after the game on Saturday. “This is … what I've been waiting on. I've been praying for things like this to happen, and God has blessed me.”
Barber has certainly paid his dues at Auburn. He redshirted and practiced with the scout team in 2013 during Auburn’s run to the national championship game.
Even back then, Tre Mason, a Heisman Trophy finalist at running back for the Tigers in 2013, saw Barber’s potential.
“[Barber] is probably, skill wise, the best out of all of us,” Mason said, per Brandon Marcello of AL.com. “That guy is good. He's very consistent when he's scrimmaging. He's very consistent.”
Barber saw his first game action in 2014, but he was stuck behind seniors Corey Grant and Cameron Artis-Payne on the depth chart. He received only 10 carries in six games played.
With Artis-Payne and Grant gone to the NFL and Thomas and Robinson sidelined, Barber got his chance to shine in the Georgia Dome.
Coach Gus Malzahn said Barber deserved the opportunity to prove himself after waiting in the wings for two years.
“I'm going to say this about Peyton: He has waited his turn,” Malzahn said after the Tigers’ victory. “He's had a great attitude. He's a fine young man. He's very tough on himself. He's got a chance to be a very good running back. From my standpoint, for a guy to have a day like this that really has worked as hard as he could, (I’m) very pleased.”
A day after the game, offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee said the health of Thomas and Robinson shouldn’t be a factor going forward.
“Both those guys are day-to-day,” Lashlee said. “Should be fine, nothing major. They just weren’t able to go back in last night, but we’re not concerned at all long-term with those guys.”
Rhett Lashlee confirmed that the running back competition is still open, but the offensive coordinator said Barber’s performance in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game helped his case to be the full-time running back.
“It’s too early to call as far as competition,” Lashlee said. “We’re going to need them all … 24 carries in a big game in about two and a half quarters is a lot. He carried the load and did very well.”
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