Forget the QB race, four Alabama football stud running backs are a load
By Ronald Moody
Alabama football pushes precision execution in the running game. Mark Ingram and Derrick Henry left Tuscaloosa with the Heisman Trophy because of this philosophy.
Since Alabama football won the national championship, the chatter has been about the quarterbacks. Nick Saban decided to pull his former SEC Offensive Player of the Year quarterback at halftime of the biggest game of the season for a talented true freshman quarterback.
Most CEOs at Fortune 500 companies would not have attempted such a daring move. The best step would be to stay risk-averse. Fortunately, Saban’s well-executed decision led Alabama to its seventeenth national title.
During the spring, the national media focused on the quarterback battle between junior Jalen Hurts and sophomore Tua Tagovailoa.
However, there is a unit on the Tide more critical than the quarterbacks.
Running to daylight
The Crimson Tide returns four otherworldly running backs. Alabama sported 251 yards rushing behind a steady offensive line. In the SEC opener versus the Vanderbilt Commodores, The Tide exploded for 496 rushing yards. Phil Steele ranks the unit as number two in the country behind Stanford. All four backs would start for any FBS school in the country. The method of keeping the backs fresh throughout the game with a solid rotation makes it harder to defend the Tide. New running backs coach Joe Pannunzio has plenty of options.
Senior Damien Harris leads the pack after scampering for 1,000 yards and 11 scores last season. He split carries with departed star Bo Scarborough thus he only carried the ball 135 times.
The great back spurned the NFL to return for his senior season when most quality juniors would not return. Damien enters the season as one of the top running backs in the nation.
He has picked up 1,000 yards in back to back seasons. If he can pick up 1,397 yards this year, he will depart as Alabama’s all-time leading rusher supplanting Derrick Henry. The Kentucky native averaged 7.4 yards per carry. The year before, he averaged 7.1. Look for a big year from the elusive, versatile senior.
The stable is wide open for Alabama football
If Najee Harris isn’t hurdling defenders as he did twice against Vanderbilt, he is moving the Tide down the field in the fourth quarter of a national title game.
The true freshman came to the Crimson Tide as the number one running back commit in the country. Harris bided his time only playing in mop-up time.
As Alabama mounted a comeback against Georgia, Najee lined up behind Tagovailoa receiving critical carries. Running like a blazing California forest fire, he picked up 64 yards on six carries. Saban displayed an incredible amount of confidence to play the true freshman, and the results showed. The powerfully built sophomore has the potential to be a superstar in college and the NFL.
Thunder and lightning type runners
Junior running back Joshua Jacobs suffered through an injury-plagued season. The Tulsa, Oklahoma native reminded Alabama fans of NFL Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders.
His shiftiness and wiggle make him a significant change of pace back for the offense. Jacobs was a pleasant surprise as Saban plucked him out of Oklahoma when Jacobs was not on recruiting pundits’ radar.
The five foot ten, 204 pound running back was the 464th ranked recruit in the 2016 recruiting class. The young back had just two offers from Wyoming, and New Mexico State before Alabama offered him. He rushed for 567 yards and four touchdowns during his first year. Jacobs put up 100 yards and a touchdown against Kentucky Wildcats.
Last season, his biggest rushing day was 51 yards against Ole Miss. After offseason ankle surgery, expect this dynamic back to entrench himself in the rotation.
Tuscaloosa native Brian Robinson Jr dominated the Alabama football spring game. Standing at a chiseled 218 pounds, Robinson proved that he could handle a number one back’s workload. He totaled 85 yards and a touchdown in the annual spring game. He offers a more contact-based running style than the other backs.
Punishing running attack
Talented running backs have graced the Capstone during Saban’s twelve years. If any injury were to occur, there is a robust next man up mentality.
Offensive coordinator Michael Locksley can decide who is hot and not miss a beat as the Tide did with Najee in the title game.
Although whoever takes snaps under center matters, there is a beautiful, cozy security blanket that the quarterback can hand off the ball. Moving the offense if the passing game stalls will not be a problem.
Just like Independence Day, expect vibrant fireworks from this group.
Next: A Letter to the College Football Playoff Committee
Mark Ingram, Trent Richardson, and Eddie Lacy were the best trio of Alabama football running backs to play under Saban in one season. But the 2018 group may be the best quartet ever.