There has been concern at Auburn that there could be more players who utilize the new NCAA redshirt rule and leave the program after three players decided to transfer last week.

However, two contributors they were concerned about are staying with the team.

Running back Kam Martin and wide receiver Sal Cannella both gave thought to utilizing that new redshirt rule and transferring but recently met with coaches and have decided to remain with the program, sources told AL.com.

Martin, who entered the season as Auburn's lead running back, was frustrated after the Tigers' loss to LSU Sept. 15 when he only got two carries and was essentially the third option behind JaTarvious Whitlow and freshman Shaun Shivers.

The junior got the start against Arkansas on Saturday, though, and rotated with Whitlow throughout the game. Martin ran for 39 yards on eight carries and caught two passes.

"We've got a lot of confidence in him," coach Gus Malzahn said last week of Martin, who ran for 453 yards as Kerryon Johnson's backup last year.

Like Martin, Cannella was praised throughout the offseason. In late August, Malzahn referred to the junior as "one of the more improved players that we've had on our team."

Nevertheless, Cannella has only one catch for two yards since his acrobatic 10-yard touchdown catch against Washington in game one.

Neither Martin or Cannella has redshirted yet, so -- under the new NCAA rule -- either player could have left the team and gotten a redshirt because of not having played in more than four games.

Auburn has already lost five players since the start of the season, including the three last week -- wide receiver Nate Craig-Myers, tight end Jalen Harris and defensive back Jayvaughn Myers.

"There's no doubt, it's a new day in college football with the new rule and all that," Malzahn said last week. "... This is a new day, and I think you'll see more and more of (players utilizing the rule and transferring) probably in the next week or so."

Matt Zenitz is an Alabama and Auburn football and basketball reporter for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter

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