As training camp nears for the Jacksonville Jaguars, we're going to break down the most interesting positional battles that will take place in camp and the preseason. Between starting positions and depth spots, there will be interesting battles up and down the roster. 

The Jacksonville Jaguars enter training camp like any other team.  Some positions are effectively settled with stars or experienced players, while others will see fierce competition decide key spots.  

For the Jaguars, the running back position will be an interesting one to watch.  Or at least behind the starter.  Travis Etienne had a coming out season in 2022, but the team has done well this offseason in adding talent to the room.  

The NFL has gradually seen more teams transition to running backs by committee.  1A and 1B options.  And while Doug Pederson won't deploy multiple backs nearly at the rate of Bill Belichick or Kyle Shannahan, it's still important to have a balanced and talented group of backs that are capable of excelling in different areas. 

With that being said, how do the Jags' backs stack up? 

Travis Etienne

For the Jaguars running back room, there is no doubt that the top dog is Etienne. The 2021 first-round pick missed his entire rookie season with a Lisfranc injury he suffered in the preseason. However, he responded with an emphatic sophomore campaign with 1125 yards (5.1 ypc) and 5 touchdowns while adding 35 catches for 316 yards.

Perhaps as important, Etienne made it through the entire season without missing a game.  The next step for the Jaguars and Etienne is more consistent usage.  Despite 220 carries, Etienne received 10 or less carries in 8 of 17 regular season games.  Part of that came from game situations, but it's something the team will need to work to improve this fall.  

Tank Bigsby

Bigsby has shown to be one of the positive surprises from the offseason, receiving praise from those in attendance at both the rookie and veteran minicamps.  

Drafted in the third round of the 2023 draft, Bigsby led the Auburn Tigers in rushing in 2021 and 2022.  He's a physical runner who possesses an intriguing combination of power and speed. 

What had been questioned coming into the draft was his receiving skills.  However, it's been his hands that have impressed in offseason workouts.  As such, Bigsby is one to watch for the RB2 spot in training camp. 

D'Ernest Johnson

Johnson faced a difficult situation in Cleveland, running behind both of the Browns' uber-talented backs in Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt. 

However, when his name was called, he delivered.  In 2021 against Denver on Thursday Night Football, with both Chubb and Hunt out due to injury, Johnson ran like a man whose hair was on fire.  He totaled 146 yards on 22 carries and a touchdown with 22 yards on 2 catches.  

Johnson is a hard runner with solid hands and significant experience.  That balance of skills gives him at least a puncher's chance to start the season off as the team's #2 running back.  

JaMycal Hasty

Hasty is a true two-way threat as a back, being a speedy runner and an excellent receiver.  Over the last two years, he's had 262 rushing yards and 283 receiving yards.  

However, with Etienne one of the elite receiving backs in the NFL, Johnson being a capable receiver, and Bigsby impressing with his hands in camp, Hasty could find his calling card skill to be just one of many in a crowded backfield.  That could leave him as the odd man out this fall if the Jaguars do what they did in 2022 – carry three running backs on the initial 53-man roster. 

Snoop Conner

It looked like Conner was going to have a chance after the team traded James Robinson to New York last fall, but Conner was used very little, totaling just 42 yards on 12 carries for the season.  Add in the team signed Johnson and drafted Bigsby, and the writing is firmly on the wall that the team doesn't think it has much in its fifth-round draft pick from last year.  

Conner will have to have a strong preseason to show he deserves the RB3 spot over Johnson, as it's very unlikely the team will part ways with its third-round pick Bigsby in the preseason. 

Qadree Ollison

The former fifth-round pick of the Falcons has the tallest hill to climb of the entire room to make the roster.  Since the Jaguars added him this offseason, they added Johnson and Bigsby, both of whom are simply more talented and well-rounded players.  

It will take something very special under the lights in the preseason for Ollison to be able to stick around in Jacksonville this fall, even on the practice squad. 

Jaguars RB Travis Etienne on track to reach a mark that no Jacksonville ever has

The young Jaguars star could reach a mark no Jacksonville player ever has this 2023 NFL season.

Featured image via Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK