Cameron Artis-Payne Tennessee

Tennessee defensive back Max Arnold (46) tackles Auburn running back Cameron Artis-Payne (44) during the fourth quarter Saturday, Nov. 9, 2013, at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. (Julie Bennett/jbennett@al.com)

AUBURN, Alabama -- According to the calendar, spring is still a few weeks away, but the start of Auburn's spring practice looms in a little less than two weeks.

With the start of spring practice on the horizon, we're going to break down an Auburn position group each day for the next two weeks as we get closer and closer to the Tigers' first practice on March 18.

Running backs

By the numbers

Corey Grant

Cameron Artis-Payne

Johnathan Ford

The departed

Tre Mason

Spring cast

Corey Grant

Cameron Artis-Payne

Johnathan Ford

Peyton Barber

On the way

Roc Thomas

Kamryn Pettway

Burning question

Who will emerge as Tre Mason's successor and is it a running back already on campus?

Star attraction

Artis-Payne stepped on campus with high expectations last spring, and many believed he would supplant Mason as the starter when two-a-day practices rolled around in August. My how wrong we were. Mason went on to have a season for the ages and broke Bo Jackson's school record along the way, and in doing so Artis-Payne mostly stood on the sidelines after splitting carries with Mason and Grant during the first two weeks of the season. Mason is gone now, of course, and the job appears to be Artis-Payne's to lose this spring.

Artis-Payne was rated the nation's No. 1 junior college running back in 2013 after rushing for an eye-popping 2,048 yards and 25 touchdowns in 2012 at Allan Hancock in California. Artis-Payne (5-10, 210) is built like an every-down running back, but he had ball-handling issues in 2013. He was the A-Day offensive MVP after rushing for 117 yards and catching two passes for 47 yards last spring, so we probably shouldn't read too much into his spring game performance this year -- good or bad.

Flash of potential

Grant has been labeled a jet sweep running back, but at one time so was Mason. Grant likely will not bulk up in the offseason, but he took enough hits -- and ran the ball between the tackles late in the 2013 season -- to prove he may be a viable option as the Tigers' primary running back. He averaged nearly 10 yards per carry, and while those numbers would certainly take a hit if he was playing in a more conventional role, he does not shy away from contact like most speedsters previously in Gus Malzahn's offense. Grant will push Artis-Payne for the starting job in the spring, and he may just be the more talented player of the two whether he wins or loses the job.

Wild card

Mason tells it like it is, and when he was asked about the running back position he leaves behind, he pointed to one player as a potential breakout star: Barber. Yes, the redshirt freshman did not see the field in 2013 but Mason has gone out of his way to spice up the expectations surrounding Barber.

Ford, who was explosive in a blowout against Western Carolina, remains at cornerback for now, but many expect him to move back to offense in the spring.

"I love running," Ford said in January. "That's been my passion, that's the reason why I wanted to come to Auburn."

On the way

The starting running back for the 2014 season may not be on campus yet. Freshman Roc Thomas, a five-star prospect, has been told he will compete immediately for playing time when he arrives on campus in the summer. He provides equal parts power and elusiveness -- all qualities the Tigers lose with Mason going to the NFL. Thomas, who ran for 2,211 yards and 32 touchdowns in 2013 at Oxford High, has plenty of competition, however, and dealing with risers such as Ford and Barber could prove to be tough. Thomas will likely see the field in 2014, and it's up to him to prove his worth in practices and, when the opportunity presents itself, on the field early in the season.

Pettway could redshirt next season, but Thomas and Pettway are expected to be the "thunder and lightning" combination in the future.

Facts of life

Mason broke the school record for rushing yards (1,816) and tied Tim Tebow's SEC record for rushing touchdowns (23) in 2013, providing the Tigers 39.5 percent of their rushing offense, which led the country. He was also the first non-quarterback to lead Auburn in total offense since Jackson did it in 1985.

Quotable

"Me and Cam talk about it all the time. [Barber] is probably, skill wise, the best out of all of us. That guy is good. He's very consistent when he's scrimmaging. He's very consistent." -- Tre Mason