If you can barely beat them, join ’em. Roc Thomas has reportedly decided to transfer to Jacksonville State, an FCS team that the Tigers barely defeated at home in overtime last season.

With Thomas expected to compete for the starting tailback spot with Jovon Robinson and Kerryon Johnson heading into fall practice, his transfer is somewhat of a surprise. But apparently he had been hinting at leaving Auburn back in December, according to AL.com.

Thomas’ departure adds to the air of uncertainty that has permeated The Plains. It starts with Gus Malzahn’s job status, which apparently is shaky to begin with, but there are other factors that have contributed to a general feeling of uneasiness.

Auburn had to struggle to finish 7-6 last season. The Tigers were impressive in their Birmingham Bowl victory over Memphis, but that win did nothing to disguise the fact that Auburn finished 2-6 in the SEC, including 0-4 in conference home games.

The Tigers’ quarterback play — a staple of Malzahn’s offenses during the Cam Newton and Nick Marshall years — dropped off dramatically under Jeremy Johnson and Sean White. Johnson, unless he decides to transfer upon graduating this month, and White are still on the roster along with JUCO transfer John Franklin III, a QB who couldn’t win the starting job at Florida State and has never taken an FBS snap.

On top of that, Peyton Barber — Auburn’s leading rusher last season — decided to leave early for the NFL. Avery Young and Shon Coleman, two linemen who helped Barber run for 1,016 yards and 13 TDs last season, have also taken their talents to the pros.

On the other side of the ball, Kevin Steele will be the Tigers’ third defensive coordinator over the last three years. Steele, who served as LSU’s DC on defense last year, will only have to fix a group that finished next to last in the SEC in total defense in 2015.

The arrests of cornerbacks Carlton Davis and Jeremiah Dinson along with defensive end Byron Cowart and wide receiver Ryan Davis earlier this month on marijuana possession charges certainly haven’t helped matters. Plus, Thomas is the second AU player to reveal his intention to transfer this week. Defensive back Tim Irvin announced he was leaving Auburn on Tuesday.

Thomas’ transfer is not the end of the world. He more than likely wasn’t going to finish ahead of Robinson and Johnson on the depth chart even if he stayed on The Plains. Still, a lot was expected of the former five-star recruit, who had 17 catches for 227 yards and a TD over his two seasons at Auburn and might have been able to help the Tigers as an option in the slot this year.

So where does all this leave Malzahn and Auburn? Definitely not on the firmest of grounds. In exactly 100 days from today, the Tigers open their 2016 season at home against Clemson, which just lost a one-score national championship game to Alabama and is among the favorites — along with the Crimson Tide and Oklahoma — to contend for the national title this year.

Malzahn won’t admit that the sky is falling at Auburn, but it certainly feels that way. It remains to be seen if he can survive this ongoing offseason storm.