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Malzahn expresses some regret, taking ‘different approach’ with Kamryn Pettway
By Cody McClure
Published:
Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn on Tuesday addressed the status of running back Kamryn Pettway.
Pettway, who was the Tigers’ No. 1 back a year ago, didn’t play last week, as he’s been battling an ankle injury suffered in Week 3 against Mercer.
Before getting injured, Pettway had productive outings against Mercer and Clemson. He hasn’t played in two of the past three weeks, but in limited action against Mississippi State, he rushed for six yards.
“We are going to stick to the fact that when he is healthy that we will play him,” Malzahn said. “He will practice this week. We will see how he is. If he is healthy, he will play and if not, then we’ll hold him out until he’s healthy.”
Malzahn was asked if he regretted playing Pettway early in the season.
“As a coach, when you do something for 27 years, you have to make decisions that you think is the best at that time,” he said. “And you always have the ability to look back and think, well, we probably should have rested in the morning. Like I said last week, that whatever we did up to that point wasn’t working.
“We tried a different approach,” Malzahn added. “Let’s get him healthy before we get him back out there. At the time you make a call, and as a leader, that’s part of it. You make calls that you think are the best at that time.”
Kerryon Johnson has carried the load as well as a coach could possibly ask in Pettway’s absence. Johnson has 11 rushing touchdowns in the past three weeks alone.
Cody McClure is an SEC Football Writer for Saturday Down South. He lives in Knoxville, Tennessee, where he also co-hosts a midday sports radio show for FOX Sports. Cody previously worked for Athlon Sports.
