Should they both opt to play in the 2022 Sugar Bowl, Deuce Vaughn of Kansas State and Jahmyr Gibbs of Alabama football will present the postseason’s most exciting running back matchup. Both Vaughn and Gibbs are electric players that are receiving threats as much as running threats and can score from anywhere on the field.
Jahmyr Gibbs has been one of the top weapons on the Alabama offense. He has amassed 850 rushing yards with seven touchdowns, and led the team with 42 receptions. In total, he has gained 1,228 yards of total offense with 10 touchdowns. In his career, Gibbs has accumulated 3,202 yards from scrimmage with 23 touchdowns, and added one more score as a kick returner.
Deuce Vaughn is the centerpiece of the Kansas State offense. The junior has run for 1,425 yards and eight touchdowns this season. Vaughn and Gibbs are two of the nation’s best pass-catching running backs and, coincidentally, have posted the exact same receiving numbers this season. Both backs have 42 catches for exactly 378 yards and three touchdowns.
Deuce Vaughn has put together three straight seasons of elite production as a Kansas State Wildcat, producing career totals of 4,751 yards from scrimmage and 42 touchdowns.
Alabama Football: Comparing supporting casts
Kansas State has a respectable passing game, but it should not present any challenges Alabama football has not seen before. K-State has used two quarterbacks this season in running threat Adrian Martinez and polished passer Will Howard. Howard was forced into the lineup following a Martinez injury, but both are expected to be healthy for the bowl game. This two-quarterback system will make Kansas State more difficult to defend.
Given that he is the undisputed star of the Wildcats’ offense, Deuce Vaughn will likely have the attention of the entire Alabama defense. Still, scheming for Vaughn is not enough. The Alabama defense will have to consistently make open-field tackles to minimize damage and limit explosive plays. It seems unlikely that Vaughn would opt out of this game, but if he did the Wildcat backfield would be in decent shape with physical freshman DJ Giddens.
Assuming Bryce Young does not play in this game, the Alabama passing game will have some major question marks. This could allow the K-State defense to commit extra defenders to slow down the Bama running game.
In the event that Jahmyr Gibbs also opts out, Alabama football will have no shortage of weapons in the backfield. Chief among them is junior Jase McClellan, who has run for 613 yards and scored nine total touchdowns this season. McClellan and classmate Roydell Williams could have big games, as they project to be a solid running back duo heading into 2023. Considering Trey Sanders has already entered the transfer portal, true freshman Jamarion Miller could also see some action.
If Jahmyr Gibbs and Deuce Vaughn both suit up for this New Years Eve Sugar Bowl matchup, college football fans everywhere will be the beneficiaries.