Many view Auburn running back Kamryn Pettway as the bruising back that powered Auburn's lethal offense, or as a future professional player. Look beyond the 1,123 yards and seven scores, and you'll find a family man.
The redshirt sophomore is one of just two players on Auburn's roster that is married, along with 26-year-old holder Tyler Stovall. Pettway and his wife, Natonya, have a daughter, Kaisley. He said they, above all else, give him the determination to be the best running back he can.
“My family drives me a lot," Pettway said. "Having my wife and my daughter is a lot of motivation for me because I know I’ll have to provide for them in the future.”
Before every game, Pettway seeks out those that drive him the most amidst a sea of orange and blue.
“As we come down Tiger Walk, I always kiss my wife and my daughter before going in the locker room," Pettway said.
His determination to provide for his family could have led to his early declaration for the NFL Draft. However, he decided to return to The Plains for another season, not only so he could boost his draft stock, but also to attain his degree. He said his wife and child had an impact on his decision to graduate from college before moving on to the professional game.
Coming into the season, Pettway was far from a professional prospect. He had limited playing time as an H-back in 2015 after redshirting his freshman season. However, he quickly became the Tigers go-to runner, especially during their six-game win streak.
“I’ve had a huge turnaround since last year," Pettway said. "This year, just blowing up out of nowhere, a lot of people didn’t expect it. But it’s been really good for me, blessings from God.”
Auburn's coaching staff and fans must have been relieved by his decision to return, especially since it meant he would play in the Sugar Bowl. If his future was still undecided, questions could have swirled around his playing status for the game in the wake of LSU's Leonard Fournette and Stanford's Christian McCaffrey's decisions to skip their respective bowls. Their decisions sparked a debate about the risks of NFL prospects playing in non-playoff bowl games.
That won't be a problem for the Tigers this season. Next season, however, will be its own situation, dependent on the context of Auburn's season and Pettway's production.
“(Playing in a bowl game) doesn’t worry me right now," Pettway said. "I’ve got a whole year to come back. I don’t know about next year.”
What he does know is that his unit is as healthy now as it's been since it led the SEC during the Tigers' hot streak. Pettway and quarterback Sean White, who both sustained injuries in a rough November for the team, have participated in all bowl practices and are prepared to face the Oklahoma Sooners.
“It’s exciting seeing everybody at 100 percent because we know what we can do," Pettway said. "At the end of the season, we couldn’t really show it well, but everybody’s full speed and going now, so it’s pretty good.”
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