GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- While Jim McElwain has been pretty open discussing most positions this spring, one position he hasn't shed much light on is running back, where Florida has three players competing for the starting job this spring.

If practice so far is any indication, that competition may be coming to a close pretty quickly, with Jordan Cronkrite far and away getting the most repetitions through the first half of spring practice. He's made the most of the carries, looking like an instinctive, physical runner.

But ask McElwain and he'll tell you -- despite a lengthy history of giving one back the lion's share of the carries -- that all of his backs will get their touches come Saturdays in the fall.

"I've kind of always been a guy who believes that you need to have multiple guys in the backfield," McElwain said. "A running back only has so many hits in him, and to me it's important that you have some depth and not one guy's carrying it 45 times. I don't believe in that. I think you need to have guys who complement each other yet can take some hits off of each other as well and I think we're getting there with the depth at the position."

(Don't miss a moment of spring practice! Before you finish reading, take five seconds NOW to sign up for our FREE Gators newsletter. We'll deliver the latest big Florida sports news to you!)

Consider this: In McElwain's last eight years as a head coach or offensive coordinator, the lead back in his offense has averaged 116 more carries than anyone else.

So while McElwain says he would like to have a heavy rotation at running back and that the reps will be shared between the backs, the competition for the starting job carries a lot more significance than he suggests.

Last year, Kelvin Taylor had 259 carries, while the other four backs on the roster combined for just 87. As McElwain describes it this spring, he's looking to determine which backs can fill which roles.

"I think you need guys at that position and I think we’re getting there," he said. "Kind of finding out what they do best and putting them in those roles is something we kind of need to continue to discover."

One of those roles, at least if history is any indication, is simply being "the guy" at running back, able to take a serious amount of carries. So far, Cronkrite is that guy.

But Florida's staff remains pleased with the progress all three backs are making. Mark Thompson has gotten the majority of the second-team reps, while Jordan Scarlett has been nursing an injury for most of spring practice.

"Mark (Thompson), big, physical guy, obviously," offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier said. "Once again the transition from junior college to here in the SEC, we've got to get him to where he can play continuous reps —- rep after rep after rep. He’s a great complement to the backs we have here, great competition. Now we talk about the two Jordans and Mark Herndon, really like where we’re stacking up there."

More than anything, Florida needs its offensive line to open up some holes for the backs. Regardless of who is toting the rock.

"I'm excited about all of them," left guard Antonio Riles said. "I love how they run the ball. They run hard. It's just up to us to give them a little crease to make that happen."

In the meantime, those backs will continue fighting for the job. If they're paying attention, they know their touches next season could depend on just how the race shakes out, regardless of the rhetoric used in press conferences.

In any case, it has made for an interesting spring in the backfield.

"The competition at running back has really helped because those guys are busting their tail now, and that's good to see," McElwain said.

---------------

For more news on Florida sports and recruiting, follow GatorBait247 on Twitter or sign up for our FREE daily Gators newsletter!

Contact Thomas Goldkamp by 247Sports' personal messaging system or on Twitter at @ThomasGoldkamp.