After Auburn running backs coach Tim Horton missed on his prediction last fall that the Tigers would produce two 1,000-yard running backs in 2016, junior Kerryon Johnson is doubling down on that bet this fall.

"I think it definitely will (happen)," Johnson said Wednesday.

Auburn came close to accomplishing the feat last season after Kamryn Pettway rushed for 1,224 yards, but Johnson was unable to keep up his end of the bargain, finishing the year with just 895 yards rushing.

The 6-foot, 212-pounder believes he and Pettway will have better luck the second time around as they attempt to accomplish something that hasn't been done at Auburn since 1979. While Auburn has produced 10 1,000-yard rushers since 2009 -- including a pair of quarterbacks -- the program has not had tandem 1,000-yard running backs since James Brooks and Joe Cribbs finished with 1,208 and 1,120 yards, respectively, in 1979.

Auburn did have two 1,000-yard rushers in 2010 (Michael Dyer and Cam Newton) and 2013 (Tre Mason and Nick Marshall), but each of those years saw a quarterback account for half of that pairing.

Johnson is confident he and Pettway can earn that rare distinction this season, especially if they remain healthy. Health was the biggest obstacle in the duo accomplishing the feat last year, with Pettway missing two games due to a hamstring injury, sitting out another and failing to record a carry in the season opener, while Johnson missed a game with a sprained ankle that slowed him much of the second half of the season.

"Coach Horton has been around long enough that he knows what he sees," Johnson said. "That's a testament to his belief in us, and we took that and we understood that, 'Hey, if he believes, then why shouldn't we? Now you look at it this year and it's like, what, is he psychic or something? I think this year, this is the year to do it if everything goes according to plan. We just got to stay down to earth and make sure that we go get it done."

Pettway has his sights set on loftier goals this season. After leading the SEC in rushing yards per game last year, the redshirt junior believes he can break Auburn's single-season rushing record set by Mason in 2013.

If he can do that, or even replicate the breakthrough season he put together in 2016, he'll keep up his end of the deal. For Johnson to join that 1,000-yard club, he would need a career year this season; last year's 895 yards were a career best for him.

How many touches Johnson ends up getting out of the backfield will also determine how successful he can be in that regard. He and Pettway have been splitting first-team reps through the first three days of practice, but how that carries into the season remains to be seen. Johnson is also expected to have an expanded role in the passing game, so while his overall touches may increase, it's possible his carries could take a hit.

"I think those guys are older guys and mature, been around here for a while so I think they get that," offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey said. "They understand how important it is to have two or three backs. Some of it will probably be situational, some of it will be who's hot, some of it will be gameplan-wise. We'll definitely have a really good plan for making sure they're a big part of our offense."