AUBURN, Ala. – On Anthony Schwartz's most recent touchdown run, a 13-yarder against Mississippi State, teammates Spencer Nigh and Malik Miller raced downfield from behind the line of scrimmage, each taking out a defender to clear the way for Flash.
All in a day's work for two of Auburn's unsung leaders.
"I'm here to do what's best for the team, whatever they ask me to do," said Miller, a junior from Huntsville, Alabama. "If I'm on the field, I'm going to give my all. I just want to win."
"I just want to help this team be successful," said Nigh, a senior H-back from Magnolia, Texas.
Miller has four rushes for 16 yards and three receptions for 38 yards this season, but his stats tell only part of the story.
'Calm mentality': Malik Miller serves as Auburn's third-down and two-minute running back
"I pride myself in being a leader of the group, knowing the offense in and out, helping others in the room," he said. "As far as on the field, I have good blocking skills, I play hard, I know what to do. And in crunch-time moments, and two-minute situations, the experience and calm mentality, knowing what to do."
Auburn often calls on Miller's blocking prowess on third down, relying on him to protect Bo Nix from blitzes.
"It can be between winning and losing," Miller said. "One mistake and that can cost us the game. I don't take that lightly. Pass protection is one of the top priorities on my list, and the whole offense's list, in the running back room, the offensive line."
"Malik is our third-down back," Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said. "He's a smart, veteran guy, has experience. He also is our two-minute running back. He's played in some big games, he's played in the SEC Championship Game, so we have a lot of confidence and a lot of trust in him."
A former walk-on, Spencer Nigh 'brings a physical presence' to Auburn's offense
Nigh, a former walk-on who played defensive line in high school, earned a scholarship this season.
"When I first came here, walking on, there were a lot of people who didn't believe and were telling me that I'm crazy," he said. "To prove everybody wrong is kind of cool to me, but what's more important is helping the team, doing what's best for them."
"Spencer Nigh is a guy that you don't see in the box scores, but he is going to bring a physical presence," Malzahn said. "Really came a long way from last year, he's one of our more consistent performers on offense. Really has taken over for Chandler Cox and has done an excellent job."
"Chandler Cox was a big mentor for me," Nigh said. "I've got nothing but the utmost respect for him. He did a great job and he helped me a lot."
Nigh's experience playing D-line prepared him for his role on offense.
"With what I'm doing for the team, you need a defensive mentality, or more of a physical, go after somebody mentality," he said. "Playing on the offensive side, you have to be more patient with your footwork. There's a happy medium to it, and I'm still working on getting better at it every day."
On Auburn's game-winning drive in the season opener against Oregon, Nigh for once found himself in the spotlight rather than the shadows, making a 9-yard catch with 31 seconds left.
"I'm just doing my job, trying to make the right read," recalled Nigh, who credits his receiving skills to his days as a long snapper who played a lot of catch. "Sat down, Bo threw a great pass. My job was pretty easy on that play."
Spencer Nigh and Malik Miller. Two of the behind-the-scenes contributors who make Auburn's offense go.
"They're both very unselfish players," Malzahn said. "Their teammates know that and they'll do anything they can to help us win."
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer