Reason 8 of 9: Why Alabama football returns to the College Football Playoff
By Mike Parham
There is ONE WEEK left until Alabama Football opens the 2017 season. This week we’ll explain reason 8 of 9 why Alabama will return to the College Football Playoff.
Last week we covered Alabama football sophomore quarterback Jalen Hurts as reason 7 of 9 why Alabama football will make it back to the College Football Playoff.
The eighth reason why Alabama will make it back to the College Football Playoff is their Running Backs.
NO other backfield in college football is more talented than the Crimson Tide. Say it with me again! NO other backfield in college football is more talented than the Crimson Tide.
Out of the four running backs that Alabama is expected to utilize this year, either of them could be a starter at most division one programs. Bo Scarbrough, Damien Harris, Joshua Jacobs, and Najee Harris are too talented to sit on the bench.
It is expected that they will all receive a decent amount of carries this year. However, Scarbrough and Harris are expected to get the bulk of the workload.
Most backs would be unhappy with having to split carries with another back and four is relatively unheard of. Luckily for Alabama, they are embracing that uniqueness, more specifically Bo Scarbrough:
"“It’s just like seeing your brother graduate — when you see your brother graduate you’re happy, right? So, when I see them do anything spectacular or anything good that helps the team, it makes me happy because they’re in the position that I’m playing and we’re all (in this) together.”"
It’s not outrageous to think that Alabama may have won the National Championship last year had he not gotten injured. Although Harris was the leading rusher last year with 1,040 yards, it was Scarbrough who excelled for the Tide in the postseason.
In the first 11 games of the season, Scarbrough accounted for only 358 yards and 5 touchdowns. However, in the final four games he erupted for 454 yards and 6 touchdowns. With Jacobs, who tallied 564 yards and 4 touchdowns, and 5-star Najee Harris, there shouldn’t be a drop in production.
Still, Tide fans looking for a heavy, clock-draining ground attack like past Saban coached teams, will have to keep looking. Coach Saban made it clear that the Tide aren’t going to adopt ball control tactics.
Next: Alabama Football: The six keys to the Tide beating FSU
Next week, the ninth and final reason why the Tide will make another College Football Playoff run will be revealed. Connect with us on Facebook and share your thoughts on why Alabama football will have another championship season.