Auburn is already experimenting with one of its newcomers in a different role.

JaTarvious Whitlow, who is listed in the team's media guide as a wide receiver, has been spending part of his summer working at running back during captain practices, according to head coach Gus Malzahn.

"We really took him as an athlete, and he can play a lot of different positions," Malzahn said Thursday during SEC Media Days. "He has worked some at running back this summer, but he's worked some at receiver, too."

Running back is not completely foreign to Whitlow, a former three-star prospect from just down the road in LaFayette.

During his high school career, Whitlow did a little bit of everything for the Bulldogs and coach James Lucas. Along with being the team's starting quarterback for much of his high school days, Whitlow also played some running back and receiver on offense, as well as defensive back and linebacker on defense. The versatile Whitlow was a three-time ASWA Class 2A All-State first-team selection as an athlete, earning the honors as a sophomore, junior and senior.

He was a surprise addition to Auburn's 2017 signing class, choosing the Tigers on National Signing Day. Auburn previously recruited him as a defensive back, but after Chip Lindsey was named offensive coordinator in January, he saw film of Whitlow and made a late push for him as a wide receiver.

Although Auburn has four returning scholarship running backs and brought in four-star running back Devan Barrett, Whitlow has seen time at the position after four-star athlete Alaric Williams never made it to campus. Williams, from Southside-Gadsden, was expected to play running back at Auburn but was ruled academically ineligible and opted to begin his college career with Garden City Community College in Kansas.

"(Whitlow) does have a skillset," Malzahn said, "and we'll know more about him once we get through fall camp."