EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the eighth installment in a nine-part series looking ahead to the start of Alabama football’s fall practice. Today we break down the running back position:
Veterans
Senior Damien Harris is the undisputed leader of this group, coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. He has rushed for 2,037 yards and 13 touchdowns in the last two years to go with 203 yards and two scores receiving. Najee Harris showed his potential as a freshman last year, going for 370 yards and three touchdowns, including six carries for 65 yards against Georgia in the national championship game. Junior Joshua Jacobs is a dual threat, with a combined 1,175 rushing and receiving yards and seven touchdowns in two seasons. Brian Robinson Jr. ran for 165 yards and two scores last year as a rookie. Each of these four players averages 6.1 yards or more per carry over the course of their careers.
Newcomer
Jerome Ford, a four-star all-purpose back, was the only running back signee for Alabama.
Outlook
Alabama has a deep and versatile backfield: Consider that this group has amassed all those yards over the last two seasons while also splitting carries with Jalen Hurts, a quarterback who is also a threat in the ground game. Damien Harris is a dependable, hard runner, and Najee Harris has both power and speed. Jacobs is a prototype third-down back who can produce in the passing game, and Robinson is a bruiser with great upside who might be starting at a lot of other SEC schools. The Crimson Tide is blessed with talent in the running game.
