Auburn’s Gus Malzahn dismisses top tailback

AUBURN, Ala. (TNS) — The first significant preseason setback among Southeastern Conference football programs has taken place at Auburn.

Senior running back Jovon Robinson, who rushed for 126 yards and a touchdown during Auburn’s 31-10 drubbing of Memphis in the Birmingham Bowl, was dismissed from the program Wednesday by Tigers coach Gus Malzahn.

The 6-foot, 219-pound Robinson was slowed by an ankle injury during the first half of last season before amassing 619 yards in the final six games, including a season-high 159 in a 26-10 victory at Texas A&M.

“He did not meet my standards or expectations of what it takes to be an Auburn football player,” Malzahn told reporters late Wednesday evening after the first preseason practice. “We’re going to have zero distractions on the team this year. I’ve given him his release, and we wish him the best.”

Robinson was rated as Rivals.com’s No. 10 tailback nationally when he signed with Auburn in 2012 out of Wooddale High School in Memphis. He failed to qualify and took a detour to Georgia Military College, where he rushed for 3,198 yards and 43 touchdowns in two seasons.

“We all support the coach’s decision,” left tackle Austin Golson said. “No one player is going to take down our team.”

Auburn’s leading rusher last season was Peyton Barber, who had 1,017 yards before bypassing his final two seasons of eligibility for the NFL draft. Barber went undrafted and signed as a free agent with Tampa Bay.

Kerryon Johnson, a 6-foot, 211-pound sophomore from Madison, Ala., is now the top returning rusher for the Tigers after carrying 52 times for 208 yards (4.0 per carry) last season.

“He’s a guy we recruited to be a marquee back,” Malzahn said. “He’s got a great opportunity now.”

This is the second consecutive year in which Auburn has lost its top returning offensive weapon. Receiver Duke Williams, who also joined the Tigers via the junior-college route, was dismissed early last season after punching two security guards at an Auburn bar.