🏈 Alabama Spring Football Preview: Running Backs

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Alabama Spring Football Preview: Running Backs



Alabama Spring Football Preview: Running Backs

You’d be a fool to bet against the Crimson Tide’s next projected starter, Bo Scarbrough.

The five-star sophomore from Tuscaloosa County High School was one of the nation’s highest-rated prep players before enrolling at Alabama in January 2015. He saw limited action behind Henry and Drake, but showed enough to his older teammates to warrant serious hype.

“If Bo wants to do it, I think Bo has a chance to be like Derrick Henry, and that’s winning the Heisman and everything,” tight end O.J. Howard told BamaOnline.com‘s Charlie Potter in December. “And I think Bo will. I think Bo will figure it out.”

Already built like an NFL back, the 6-foot-2, 235-pound Scarbrough has the ability to plow through defenders or use his surprising speed to race around them. An iffy right knee (he tore an ACL last spring) is perhaps the only potential roadblock.

Harris, a 5-foot-11, 205-pound sophomore, will provide the primary competition in spring camp.

The best running back in the Class of 2015 got more playing time than Scarbrough last season, racking up 170 total yards and a touchdown while pitching in on kick returns. It’s widely speculated that Scarbrough and Harris will work as a tandem in 2016, much like Henry and Drake did this past season.

 

[MacLittle13]

The "if Bo wants to" part jumps out at me. I hope that isn't an issue. I don't think motivation was an issue for any of the Alabama running backs that have come before him (at least under Saban).

I've always thought whether or not Bo could stay healthy would be the only thing that would hold him back. Hopefully I'm reading that wrong. He is probably the player I'm most excited to see get meaningful snaps this fall, even more-so than the starter at QB. I think Bo is going to be the most important part of a Swiss Army knife type of offense that can run multiple formations out of a single personnel grouping.

 

[Tidestalker]

First time I can ever remember under Saban having a question mark at RB. I guess when it was just Coffee and Ingram, you could say there was a question about whether or not Ingram was ready to be a legit backup SEC RB as a freshman.

The answer here is Bo Scarbrough. He is the only guy on the roster right now that stands out as physically gifted enough do run through the SEC. I think Harris is a perfect backup... Kid is bright, has experience, runs hard... But he didn't show that ability to either run over, run away, or run over and away from the defense.

If Emmons can qualify, we will have a solid #3. Otherwise I would expect Clark to eat up a few snaps. I always liked his athleticism and attitude... Just had some bad luck since steppong on campus.

 

[BamaFan334]

The "if Bo wants to" part jumps out at me. I hope that isn't an issue. I don't think motivation was an issue for any of the Alabama running backs that have come before him (at least under Saban).

I've always thought whether or not Bo could stay healthy would be the only thing that would hold him back. Hopefully I'm reading that wrong. He is probably the player I'm most excited to see get meaningful snaps this fall, even more-so than the starter at QB. I think Bo is going to be the most important part of a Swiss Army knife type of offense that can run multiple formations out of a single personnel grouping.

I didn't take it as anyone questioning his heart or "want to". I took it as he has all the ability to be everything he wants, the sky is the limit type stuff. After watching his couple of runs against Michigan State, I think he got a taste of why he came to Alabama, big stage, hype, national television, something to lose, and I feel as if he ran very hard those couple of times wanting everything that comes with the hype. He wanted to be Henry.

 

[MacLittle13]

I didn't take it as anyone questioning his heart or "want to". I took it as he has all the ability to be everything he wants, the sky is the limit type stuff. After watching his couple of runs against Michigan State, I think he got a taste of why he came to Alabama, big stage, hype, national television, something to lose, and I feel as if he ran very hard those couple of times wanting everything that comes with the hype. He wanted to be Henry.

That's what I saw too. He looked hungry in limited action. If he can keep that hunger and stay healthy, I agree, the sky is the limit.

I think I read the clip and then read the actual article later and thought I had seen where more than one player made the "if he wants to" comment. I swear I thought I saw where Cyrus made the same comment but went back and couldn't find it.