Kam Martin's sophomore season was an up-and-down campaign that saw the fleetfooted running back's playing time fluctuate sporadically throughout the year.

There were games when Martin saw double-digit carries, others where he was given a handful of touches and some in which he received no carries out of the backfield altogether as the coaching staff often leaned on upperclassmen Kerryon Johnson and Kamryn Pettway, when healthy. Despite his shifting role within the offense, and the crowd of running backs the Tigers could have on the roster next season, Martin shot down any talk of seeking a possible transfer in the offseason.

"I don't have no plans on leaving or anything like that," Martin said after Auburn's 34-27 loss to UCF in the Peach Bowl on Monday.

Martin had six carries for 24 yards against the Knights as he finished his sophomore season with 74 carries for 453 yards and two scores despite not getting carries in four of the Tigers' 14 games. After opening the season with a 14-carry, 136-yard, one-touchdown performance against Georgia Southern in a game that Auburn was already without a suspended Pettway and saw Johnson injure his hamstring, Martin did not record a carry in four of Auburn's next six games, including losses to Clemson and LSU. He also had just one carry against Arkansas and two in the Tigers' regular-season win against Georgia.

"I really can't control when I can get in the game and stuff, but when I do, I always think like -- I'm on the sideline telling myself, 'when I get in there, make plays so like I'm probably going to get the ball again,'" Martin said. "You know, that's all there is to it. Whenever I get in, I just want to make plays for my teammates."

The 5-foot-10, 182-pounder did just that when his number was called. Martin led Auburn's backfield with 6.12 yards per carry, which was the sixth-best mark in the SEC 38th nationally among running backs, and he had just five of his 74 carries stopped behind the line of scrimmage.

"I felt like I had an alright season, you know," Martin said. "I'm very blessed to be here at Auburn. My time is going to come this year. I'm believing it, because I know it's going to happen."

With Martin set on returning for his junior season rather than potentially seeking a transfer elsewhere for more playing time, Auburn could have a crowded backfield in 2018.

Johnson and Pettway both have NFL Draft decisions looming, while Pettway could also seek a grad transfer before the start of next season once he finishes his undergrad degree. Redshirt freshman Malik Miller, who had 34 carries for 135 yards and a touchdown while coming off knee surgery, said after the Peach Bowl that he has not given any thought to seeking a transfer. The Tigers also return Devan Barrett, who had 14 carries for 79 yards this season but was also used in the passing game, as well as redshirting freshman JaTarvious Whitlow, who turned heads during Auburn's on-campus Peach Bowl practices.

Auburn will also welcome four-star signees Asa Martin and Shaun Shivers into the fold. Martin was on campus for bowl practices last month and will enroll in classes in the spring, while Shivers also signed during the early signing period but will enroll in May as the nation's No. 8 all-purpose back.

Martin is not concerned about the number of running backs Auburn could have competing for playing time next season.

"I'm just going to do what I do," Martin said. "I'm different from everybody, you know? I just take care of my business whenever I get in there. That's what it all comes to."

Whether the Tigers have any attrition in the backfield remains to be seen. Underclassmen have until Jan. 15 to declare early for the NFL Draft, while any possible transfers before next season could occur at any time.

Regardless, Martin is confident he'll be able to build off his performance this season.

"I feel like next year, 2018 is going to be my year to come out and just show everybody what I really can do," Martin said. "I feel like I have a lot of things I need to work on in the spring to be a complete back. It's going to happen. It don't happen overnight, but it's going to happen."

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