Alabama Football: Trey Sanders will be the next Josh Jacobs for Tide

Alabama football has a special talent in Trey Sanders.

The Alabama Crimson Tide have been Running Back U for the entire Nick Saban era. Between two Heisman Trophies, plenty of high NFL Draft picks, and consistent success at both the college and professional level, Alabama football has dominated the backfield.

Next in line for the Crimson Tide is Trey Sanders. Sanders was a stud out of high school, but injuries and depth have held him back. He’s now looking to have a starting impact despite being hidden on the depth chart by a returning senior. His biggest strength is his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield, and he’s an absolute wrecking ball. Does this remind you of any former Alabama running back?

Outside of the hype out of high school, Trey Sanders appears to be a spitting image of Josh Jacobs. Jacobs had all of the talent in the world, but he was held back until his final season with the Crimson Tide. He had to find a role with Najee Harris and Damien Harris on the team, but he finally did. Thanks to his ability to catch the ball and run developed routes, Jacobs was crucial on third downs. He made the most out of every opportunity he received, and that earned him more touches as a junior. He was able to show enough in these glimpses to be drafted in the first round, and he’s now one of the best young backs in the NFL.

Jacobs has also experienced injuries, much like Trey Sanders. Sanders was forced to redshirt this year after a foot injury in fall camp. If the 2020 college football season ends up being canceled, he will likely only have one year of college tape. However, that’s all that Josh Jacobs really needed.

Alabama football will prepare Trey Sanders for the next level.

The Crimson Tide has proven that they can develop talent in a short period of time. With running backs, that is sometimes considered a strength. One of the biggest knocks on Derrick Henry was the number of carries he had in college.

Although there are plenty of similarities between Josh Jacobs and Trey Sanders, there are some differences. Sanders came into college with a ton of hype, while Jacobs carried one of the biggest underdog stories in sports history. Sanders is also working behind a Heisman Trophy candidate in Najee Harris, so it will be harder for him to earn reps this season. Either way, I would expect Sanders to explode over his next two years. He’s got a ton to prove, and he just needs a shot.

Alabama football produces running backs in all shapes and sizes. This year, Trey Sanders might remind you of a former stud for the Crimson Tide.