For the second year in a row, Gus Malzahn and the Auburn Tigers are tasked with the replacing the SEC’s leading rusher.

They cleared the hurdle with ease in 2014, replacing 2013’s leading rusher of 2013 in Tre Mason with 2014’s leading rusher, Cameron Artis-Payne. But Artis-Payne was a senior himself, and once again the backfield is in need of a starter.

In fact, it could be in need of as many as three.

At the start of spring practice, Auburn offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee stated three tailbacks — junior college transfer Jovon Robinson, five-star 2014 signee Roc Thomas and redshirt sophomore Peyton Barber — would all compete for the starting job, and added there’s no need to limit the workload to just one back.

“We traditionally have that one guy, but if we had three guys that all had 700 or 800 yards, it’s just as good as one guy having 1,800 yards or maybe better because they are fresher,” Lashlee told the media. “I think it’s a position where we have three really talented guys. The biggest thing is they just don’t have the experience. So spring and fall camp is huge for them. We’ll just see how it goes.”

The lack of experience is certainly as large a factor as Lashlee indicates. Thomas and Barber each have just one year of experience, buried behind Artis-Payne and senior backup Corey Grant. Robinson has experience at the junior college level but not in the FBS.

It seems Lashlee took the approach of splitting caries evenly and allowing the players to decide who deserves to be on the field come the fall.

“Typically, Roc and Peyton have been starting, just because they’ve been more comfortable in everything, but it’s been even reps,” the OC said.

Robinson has been putting in work as a kick returner this spring as well, which only indicates the coaching staff has an interest in using his rare athleticism as often and in as many ways as possible.

Barber, a three-star recruit in the class of 2013, was the lowest rated of the three when he arrived at Auburn. But, like the hundreds of others examples at programs from coast to coast, he outplayed his evaluations after a redshirt season, impressing coaches in practice enough to crack this year’s battle for playing time.

Barber admitted earlier this spring that he’s embraced his undergo role in the competition, and believes there’s a role for him on the Tigers.

“I’ve always kind of been considered the underdog, so I’m pretty used to it,” Barber told AL.com. “It’s nothing new.

“Those two guys were highly recruited coming out,” he added. “I was hurt my junior year, so I didn’t get that much exposure, but it doesn’t really matter to me.”

Thomas is the youngest of the group and yet has achieved the most as a Tiger among the three. He carried the ball 43 times for 214 yards and two touchdowns as a true freshman a year ago, but has a head start in learning how he can thrive in the offense.

Factor in wideout Ricardo Louis’ role as a gadget player on the team, regularly handling reverses out of the backfield, and there may be four players splitting carries this fall, or less, depending on who can prove their worth in opportunities like spring practice.

The deadline to decide how all three are used is still off in the distance, well past the end of the spring. But these kinds of competitions are what spring ball is about.

The backfield is open for the taking. The spring may just be the time for someone to take it.