Alabama Football: Top 10 Running Backs During Saban Era

7. Glen Coffee

Glen Coffee was an Alabama football mainstay from the Mike Shula era. The Fort Walton Beach, Florida native, was a three-star running back that led his high school team to the District 2-4A title as a senior. He managed to rush for 1,886 yards with 350 receiving yards for a total of 29 scores.

Coffee finished his freshman season rushing for 179 yards. Glen redshirted in 2006 after a knee injury and returned during Nick Saban’s first season at Alabama. The six foot, 210 pound Coffee split carries with speedster Terry Grant finishing with 545 yards and four scores. He did not play in the final four games of the regular season due to a textbook scandal. Glen returned in the Independence Bowl and rushed for 72 yards in a 30-24 Tide victory.

He had a breakthrough season in 2008 rushing for 1,383 yards and ten touchdowns.

Coffee was a punishing runner that ran with a chip on his shoulder. He set the standard for all future Alabama running backs under Saban.