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Dominance Series: Running Back U

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Over the week on BamaInsider.com, our staff will highlight the dominance of Alabama football. Today, we continue the series with Running Back U, looking over the great backs of the Nick Saban era.

Overview 

With as much talent as the Crimson Tide has sent to the NFL, it could be argued that Alabama could be “Linebacker U” or “Defensive back U.” However, considering the school’s only two Heisman winners are running backs and both of them earned the award during head coach Nick Saban’s tenure, “Running back U” seems to fit the best.

Because of their Heisman status, Derrick Henry and Mark Ingram will always top the list of great running backs, but Alabama has had elite talent at the position in all 10 of Saban's seasons in charge. In fact, the head coach has had eight of his running backs selected in the NFL Draft since taking over.

Alabama running backs under Saban
Name Years Career rushing stats Drafted 

Derrick Henry

2013-15

3,591-yards, 42-touchdowns

Second round, No. 45 overall to the Tennessee Titans

Kenyan Drake

2012-15

1,495-yards, 18 touchdowns

Third round, No. 73 overall to the Miami Dolphins

T.J. Yeldon

2012-14

3,322 yards, 37 touchdowns

Second round, No. 36 overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars

Jalston Fowler

2010-14

738 yards, 5 touchdowns

Fourth round, No. 108 overall to the Tennessee Titans

Eddie Lacy

2012-12

2,402 yards, 30 touchdowns

Second round, No. 61 overall to the Green Bay Packers

Trent Richardson

2009-11

3,130 yards, 35 touchdowns

First round, No. 3 overall to the Cleveland Browns

Mark Ingram

2008-10

3,261 yards, 42 touchdowns

First round, No. 28 overall to the New Orleans Saints

Glen Coffee

2005-08

2,107 yards, 14 touchdowns

Third round, No. 74 overall to the San Francisco 49ers

What's made them successful

Alabama running backs coach Burton Burns has long been one of the biggest reasons behind Alabama's success in the running game. Photo | Laura Chramer
Alabama running backs coach Burton Burns has long been one of the biggest reasons behind Alabama's success in the running game. Photo | Laura Chramer

It certainly helps Alabama that it has recruited premium talent to the running back position in recent years. Yeldon and Richardson were five-stars, while Henry, Drake, Fowler, Lacy and Ingram all earned four-star rankings in high school. Among the drafted running backs in the Saban era, Coffee is the lone three-star. However, he was brought in by Mike Shula’s staff in 2005.

During Saban’s first season in charge in 2007, the Tide finished with 1,949 yards on the ground. That number grew the following two years, spiking up to 2,584 yards in 2008 before climbing to 3,011 in 2009, headlined by Ingram’s Heisman season and the team’s first national title under Saban. The team’s best rushing performance came last season, as the Tide ran for 3,675 yards, averaging 245 yards per game on the ground.

Alabama rushing totals under Saban
Year Rushing yards  Rushing touchdowns  Rushing yards per game

2016

3,675

33

245

2015

2,999

33

199.93

2014

2,893

35

206.64

2013

2,673

28

205.62

2012

3,185

37

227.5

2011

2,788

34

214.46

2010

2,378

30

182.92

2009

3,011

31

215.07

2008

2,585

32

184.64

2007

1,949

19

149.2

The man behind that success has been assistant coach Burton Burns. Entering his 11th season with the Crimson Tide, Burns is Saban’s longest tenured assistant at Alabama. The New Orleans native was named the Football Scoop Running Backs Coach of the Year following the 2008 season and is also known to be one of the best recruiters in the nation.

“I could talk about Coach Burns all day,” Alabama running back Damien Harris said last season. “I don’t really know how the outside looks at him. But he’s so respected amongst this program — players, staff. He’s a big part of the reason why the running back group is where we are today.”

What to expect this season

Alabama will be loaded at running back next season. Photo | Laura Chramer
Alabama will be loaded at running back next season. Photo | Laura Chramer

If there’s one area Alabama doesn’t need to worry about heading into the season, it’s at running back. The Tide has six running backs on its roster who would all start at most programs around the nation.

Leading the group will be a trio of returning starters in Damien Harris, Bo Scarbrough and Josh Jacobs. Harris led the Tide with 1,037 yards on 146 carries last season, an average of 7.10 yards per touch. Scarbrough came on strong toward the end of the year, racking up 454 yards and four touchdowns in the final four games before breaking his leg in the national championship. Jacobs made just one start but saw plenty of action last year, tallying 567 yards and four touchdowns on the ground while leading Alabama receivers with 14 receptions for 156 yards. Alabama will also bring back B.J. Emmons, who rushed for 173 yards and a touchdown before suffering a fractured foot midway through the season.

There as also been plenty of excitement over the two backs entering the program. Najee Harris, the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2017 class, and four-star Tuscaloosa product Brian Robinson both came to the Tide as early enrollees this spring. During the A-Day scrimmage, Najee Harris rushed for a team-high 70 yards on 17 carries, while Robinson ran for 21 yards on seven carries.

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Former Alabama running back Derrick Henry (left) won the Heisman award in 2015. Photo | USA Today
Former Alabama running back Derrick Henry (left) won the Heisman award in 2015. Photo | USA Today

Alabama Football Dominance Series By BamaInsider.com 

7/4 - Running Back U

7/3 - Kings of College Football

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