Alabama Football: Top 10 Running Backs During Saban Era

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6. TJ Yeldon

The former Auburn commit was a star with the Crimson Tide. He was Alabama’s Mr. Football at Daphne High School after rushing for 2,193 yards and 31 touchdowns.

Yeldon’s silky smooth running style made an immediate impact on the Tide. In his first game in the Crimson Tide uniform, he rushed for 111 yards and a touchdown against the Michigan Wolverines.  He split carries with Eddie Lacy yet still rushed for 1,108 yards and 11 touchdowns. His 1,108 rushing yards were an Alabama record for a freshman.  Yeldon’s twelve total scores tied Mark Ingram’s freshman touchdown record. A big-time performer, he darted for a season-high 153 yards against Georgia in the SEC Championship game.

For his sophomore season, Yeldon rushed for 1,235 yards and 14 touchdowns. He followed that season with 979 yards and 11 touchdowns during his junior season splitting carries with Derrick Henry.

His swing pass catch and run for a touchdown against LSU in 2012 will go down as one of the greatest plays in Alabama football history.