TideSports 2016 preview: Running backs
Returning starter: None
Starter lost: Derrick Henry
Top candidates: Bo Scarbrough carried the ball just 18 times as a true freshman, but he did average 5.8 yards per carry. Damien Harris has the most experience, rushing for 157 yards and a touchdown on 46 carries as a freshman. True freshman B.J. Emmons was the No. 1-rated running back in the country as a high school senior. True freshman Joshua Jacobs was a late addition to the Crimson Tide’s 2016 signing class, but his athleticism and size at 5-foot-10 and 204 pounds make him a candidate to earn playing time this season.
Newcomer to watch: Emmons has the size and strength at 6-foot, 206 pounds to contribute immediately for Alabama. The depth he and Jacobs add are a sight for sore eyes for running backs coach Burton Burns and offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin. Ronnie Clark’s Achilles injury left the Crimson Tide with just Scarbrough and Harris, but Emmons and Jacobs bolstered the unit immediately when they stepped on campus.
You need to know: When Derrick Henry was awarded the Heisman Trophy in 2015 he became the second player in UA history to do so, joining Mark Ingram, also a running back, who won the award in 2010. Trent Richardson was also a Heisman Trophy finalist in 2011.
Outlook: In the opinion of many observers, the running back inexperience is a more serious concern for the offense than the lack of having a returning starter at quarterback. What makes the situation all the more concerning is Scarbrough’s injury history, and, although not Scarbrough’s fault, many worry about his durability to last for an entire season. Harris’ progression in the spring was a step in the right direction for the position. Harris looked like a more patient runner during the spring and his overall development excited head coach Nick Saban. It’s not wise to rely on freshmen at any position in college football, for the jump from high school to college is a big one, but Emmons and Jacobs have the size and ability. Saban has also said running back and wide receiver are positions that are easiest for freshmen to come and make a contribution.
Key stat: The 64 combined career carries for Harris and Scarbrough are just 18 more than last year’s Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry had in a single game last season: Henry carried the ball 46 times against Auburn for 271 yards and a touchdown.
Quotable: “Running back depth is a big challenge for us. All our running backs are young. I think every running back – every scholarship running back – on the roster is a freshman or a sophomore, which is a very extreme situation because of the three great backs we’ve had the last two years. That’s just another challenge that we have.” – UA offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin