Quantifying the impact of Nate Craig-Myers and Jalen Harris' absence on Auburn's offense against Arkansas is difficult, but it was certainly felt by the Tigers during Saturday's blowout of the Razorbacks.

Craig-Myers and Harris both announced their decisions to transfer from the program last week, leaving Auburn not only down two of its starters on offense, but without two of its best perimeter blockers in the run game. While Auburn's inefficiencies on the ground can't be directly attributed to the departures of a starting receiver and tight end, it certainly didn't help the Tigers in their worst rushing performance in a winning effort in seven seasons.

"I mean, yeah, we missed (them) a lot," running back Boobee Whitlow said. "Once you leave the team, it's a big drop, but we got guys that work hard and they're going to be able to fulfill that part.... We just have to move on and just take it with it."

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Against Arkansas, Auburn mustered just 91 rushing yards, averaging just 2.53 yards per carry against the Razorbacks. It was an inefficient effort, to be sure, especially for a Gus Malzahn program that prides itself on being dominant on the ground, with a weekly goal of 200 rushing yards.

Saturday marked the fifth-fewest rushing yards by Auburn during Gus Malzahn's tenure, matching the 91 the Tigers were held to against Alabama in the 2015 Iron Bowl. It was also the fewest rushing yards for Auburn in a win since 2011, when the team accumulated just 78 yards on the ground in its season-opening win against Utah State to kick off the Tigers' BCS title defense.

"I've been saying for four weeks, we've got to run the football better," Malzahn said. "That's part of it. I really feel like before it's all said and done, we will. But that needs to be quicker -- sooner rather than later."

Without Craig-Myers and Harris, Auburn relied a lot on freshmen receivers Seth Williams and Shedrick Jackson -- Williams was announced as a starter at the Y receiver spot, though Jackson made his first career start -- as well as senior Tucker Brown to fill the void as a blocking tight end.

Brown has ample experience in that role, often being used near the goal line and in the Tigers' heavy sets as a blocking tight end or additional offensive lineman, so Auburn knew what it was getting from him. In the two freshman receivers, however, Auburn knew there was going to be a void to fill when it came to blocking downfield given Craig-Myers' established ability in that aspect of playing receiver.

"I really thought Seth did some good things from a blocking standpoint," offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey said. "... I thought Shedrick Jackson really stepped up in the role he was in. He did a great job for us on our buck sweeps. I liked it. I think we're going to be just fine."

Though Auburn's run game had its share of struggles against Arkansas, both Williams and Jackson made some key blocks throughout the night.

Jackson made a strong outside block downfield on Whitlow's 15-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter -- when Auburn put together its most effective and efficient drive of the night -- and another on a buck sweep for Kam Martin earlier in that same drive. Williams, meanwhile, has a big-time block to spring fellow freshman receiver Anthony Schwartz on a 42-yard screen pass from Jarrett Stidham in the first half.

"When he first came in, he was kind of -- (wide receivers coach) Kodi (Burns) was really on him because that's like his guy, so he's been getting a lot better at run-blocking," Schwartz said of Williams. "We do it every day in practice, so I'm very proud of where he's came from when we started fall camp to where he is right now."

While Williams, who is expected to see the biggest increase in reps with Craig-Myers gone, has shown a willingness and ability to block downfield, Schwartz believes the 6-foot-3, 210-pounder is just scratching the surface in that aspect of the game and could help minimize the impact of Craig-Myers' departure moving forward.

"I feel like Seth, once he gets his -- if he can get that confidence, he'll be able to," Schwartz said. "He's strong but he doesn't know it yet, so when he's able to get that confidence to be able to out-dominate the man, set the edge -- when that happens, it's going to be scary."

Tom Green is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Tomas_Verde.