With Kerryon Johsnon assuming the lion's share of the workload in Auburn's backfield this season, Malik Miller and Kam Martin saw smaller roles than some envisioned for them heading into the season.
Martin and Miller, who were expected by many to take on larger roles as change-of-pace backs behind Johnson -- particularly when Kamryn Pettway was sidelined with various injuries -- were used sporadically for the Tigers through 13 games, combining for 102 carries and 564 yards in limited roles for the SEC West champions. Both Martin and Miller adapted to their respective roles this season.
"I just have to embrace my role," Martin said. "I can't control play-calling or who the coaches want in the game. I just have to embrace my role and do my job."
Martin stepped up big for Auburn in the season opener, when he rushed for 136 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries after Johnson went down with a hamstring injury in a game the Tigers were already without Pettway due to a one-game suspension. After that performance against Georgia Southern, however, Martin never saw more than 13 carries in a game and failed to record a carry in four of Auburn's next six games.
Even with Johnson limited due to injuries in the SEC Championship Game, Martin carried the ball just four times for 20 yards, and he enters the Peach Bowl with 68 carries for 429 yards and two touchdowns while averaging 6.31 yards per carry.
"I just have to embrace my role and do my job," Martin said after the loss to Georgia.
Miller's workload has been even lesser than Martin's.
The redshirt freshman saw carries in just seven of Auburn's 13 games, not playing at all in two outings this season -- against Georgia and Alabama late in the year -- and never seeing double-digit carries. He finished with 34 carries for 135 yards and a touchdown, with his best outing coming against Missouri in the team's SEC opener, when he had a season-high nine carries for 40 yards.
"Things happen," Miller said. "I could've played a little more than I did, but at the end of the day I can't control that. All I can control is what I do. A lot of respect for the guys who make the plays, make the calls. I just control what I can, working hard every single day, being ready when my name and number's called."
Miller, who showed some promise as a true freshman in limited opportunities last season and looked the part of Auburn's third running back on A-Day, was ostensibly the Tigers' fourth or fifth running back this season while making his return from knee surgery. The 5-foot-11, 225-pounder said it wasn't particular difficult coming back from the injury, adding that he just tried to stay ready and do whatever he could to help the team "no matter how little or how big" his role was.
Despite the condensed roles this season, both Martin and Miller feel they showed they're ready to take the next step toward bigger roles in 2018.
"Most definitely," Miller said. "My competitiveness, every time I step up, I'm ready to take every snap of the game. That's just how I go into anything -- any practice, any game. Kerryon's having a heck of a season. Tough guy, I've known him since high school. We all just are there for one another in the room; we're all brothers and got each other's back."
Tom Green is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Tomas_Verde.