Lingering injuries continue to open door for Alabama's younger backs
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama will once again be without three of its running backs on Saturday as it wraps up its spring practice with its annual A-Day game at 2 p.m. inside of Bryant-Denny Stadium. Head coach Nick Saban announced Thursday that returning starters Bo Scarbrough (leg) and Damien Harris (foot) along with B.J. Emmons (foot) will not participate in the scrimmage. Linebacker Shaun Dion Hamilton (ACL) has also been ruled out.
Scarbrough and Emmons have donned black jerseys all spring, while Damien Harris has been limited since spraining his foot during the first scrimmage. All three were held out of the Crimson Tide’s scrimmage last week, but Scarbrough was seen taking part in team drills during practice Thursday.
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“The goal for Bo is that he comes out of spring practice and he thinks he’s 100 percent and he can do everything and he has no problem,” Saban said. “He took almost every rep in practice today. Are we going to let him play in A-Day, no. Because we haven’t banged him around a lot, there’s no sense in doing that.
“Damien Harris has a sprained foot. He has not practiced, and he will not be in A-Day. B.J. Emmons, he’s doing some things, but he’s not 100 percent from his foot injury he suffered last season.”
The absence of the three backs should provide an opportunity for Josh Jacobs as well as early enrollees Najee Harris and Brian Robinson, who will both get their first opportunity to perform in front of Alabama fans in Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Josh Jacobs finished fourth on the team in rushing last season, gaining 567 yards and four touchdowns on 85 carries, an average of 6.67 yards per carry. While he emerged as a surprise during his freshman season last year, Alabama fans know what to expect from the rising sophomore. Most of the interest Saturday will be placed on the Tide’s two prized early enrollees.
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Najee Harris comes to Alabama rated as the No. 1 overall player in this year’s class, while Brian Robinson was ranked as the No. 7 running back and No. 82 player overall.
“Whoever is back there, they’re going to do what they are expected to do,” Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts said. “They’re going to run the ball hard, protect it and all that good stuff. For those new guys, they’re going to play and see what it’s like.”
Of the two, Harris has drawn the most hype, reportedly hurdling multiple defenders during the Tide’s first scrimmage.
“Najee, he runs hard,” Alabama defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick said. “He doesn’t want to go to the ground, and you see it every time he touches the ball.
“He has a great open-field (game). He’s really hard to tackle in the open field. He’s jumping over people, he’s running through people, running around people. He’s a great athlete, really fast runner, really explosive. So it’s really good to see him out there.”
Robinson, 6-foot-1, 218 pounds, was the Tide’s fastest back during spring workouts, recording a time of 4.41 in the 40-yard dash, according to Al.com. A Tuscaloosa native, he played his high school at Hillcrest and will be no stranger to the local crowd at Bryant-Denny Stadium
“As a young guy, he was full of energy and fun to be around, loved playing football,” said Alabama linebacker Keith Holcombe who played with Robinson at Hillcrest. “That’s exactly what he’s brought here.”
None of the injuries to Alabama’s backs are expected to linger into the fall as all six players are expected to be ready for the Tide’s season opener against Florida State on Sept. 2.