🏈 Championships vs Heisman's: A "Did You Know" in the form of a question. How many Bama RB's have had back-to-back-to-back 1000 yard seasons?

[TerryP]

At the end of each and every day I'll still refer to the award as the "Hypeman." Believe you me, I was proud of both Mark and Derrick from winning the trophy but it still means little to me...probably less so today (see Cam, Manziel, et al) than it did in the past. But, I can see myself getting aboard a #Harris4Heisman type of campaign.

If he were able to notch another 1000 yard season this fall it would make his third consecutive. Considering how Bama has been a team that's been "running backs by committee" so often it's quite an accomplishment.

The ol' Kentuckian has represented himself very well since he's been in Tuscaloosa. He's going to rival Shaun as a fan fav by the end of this season.

 

[50+yeartidefan]

Fully agree. When he came back for senior season. It’s obvious he wants to be the featured back and probably will be
And would be a good bet for Heisman at the odds. I would put 20$ on him

 

[TUSKtimes]

At the end of each and every day I'll still refer to the award as the "Hypeman." Believe you me, I was proud of both Mark and Derrick from winning the trophy but it still means little to me...probably less so today (see Cam, Manziel, et al) than it did in the past. But, I can see myself getting aboard a #Harris4Heisman type of campaign.

The Heisman is the worst of it, I guess because it's the biggest. Maybe it was doomed from the start when they made a running back the image for the award. How can it keep going to offensive players when the Heisman is promoted as the best player in college football?

How many Heisman have been given to players that are simply running offensive schemes conductive to putting up big numbers? Andre Ware at Houston is what you get when you end up doing the math.

Alabama has been willing to open it up and play different offensive schemes that make chunk yards a reality. So much so that even Tua may finally represent the great arms that Bama has enjoyed with his very own Heisman. But it's still a "hype" award.

 

[TerryP]

I knew he was interviewed...haven't had a chance to watch this yet. But, here...

 

[BamaFan334]

I agree. Always loved Damien Harris and the way he carries himself. He is always calculating in his interviews and has Saban written all over him in his ability to charm and be stern enough to get a point across. I remember our very own fans blasted him his Freshman year as he wasn't good enough and not living up to that five star tag. No mention of the crappy blocking he received that season in mop up duty. Folks on this very website trashed him. Well, he clearly showed them they were fools and has dominated ever since his Sophomore year. Yeldon was the last back close to three 1,000 yard seasons and missed it by like 30 yards. I blame Kiffin on that, but it will be an amazing accomplishment. Was Alexander the last to do it? And no one has done it Freshman, Sophomore, and Junior years.

 

[PhillyGirl]

Damien deserves as many accolades as he can get, but I really don't see him winning the Heisman .. barring a truly out of this world, mind-blowing, unbelievable season.

The Heisman goes to the player the media slobbers over the most in a season. Damien seems to always be overshadowed by other Bama players, let alone in the SEC .. let alone on a national scale. I absolutely love the player and think he is among the most excellent in CFB, and certainly meets a lot of the Heisman criteria, but he gets no recognition. He gets no respect.

Plus, what does the Heisman even mean these days? Shameis Winston, $cam Newton, Johnny Noballs? Meh.

 

[252BAMA]

Re: Thread title question. Bobby Humphrey did in 1986-87. Were there any others? It is not a category in the Bama record book.

 

[TUSKtimes]

Re: Thread title question. Bobby Humphrey did in 1986-87. Were there any others? It is not a category in the Bama record book.

Kenneth Darby, 2004, 2005, and almost 2006. he was less than 200 yards shy of passing Alexander for career rushing leader. The kid from Huntsville gets overlooked way too much.

 

[252BAMA]

Re: Heisman. If Bama wins the NC with Tua playing right handed, who wins the Heisman?

 

[JoshB]

I believe Damien Harris, TJ Yeldon, Bobby Humphrey, Johnny Musso, Kenneth Darby and Shaun Alexander are the only backs to have back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons.

 

[TerryP]

Re: Thread title question. Bobby Humphrey did in 1986-87. Were there any others? It is not a category in the Bama record book.

I've been looking to see and haven't found another. I haven't seen it mentioned. Have you?

 

[TerryP]

I believe Damien Harris, TJ Yeldon, Bobby Humphrey, Johnny Musso, Kenneth Darby and Shaun Alexander are the only backs to have back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons.

Kenneth Darby, 2004, 2005, and almost 2006.

...that's where I was left.

2006 being such a crazy year. Was it just lost in the headlines (how close KD was the 3 straight?) I'm thinking if he hits the mark he's the first in Bama history to do so.

Which goes back to my earlier thought...no so much of a Heisman guy. But if this is true...

Damn.

How many college backs have had back-to-back-to-back 1000 yard seasons?

 

[TUSKtimes]

How many college backs have had back-to-back-to-back 1000 yard seasons?

It would be a short list. And they would have All-American and Heisman by their name most of the time. Tony Dorsett is the only one I know of that had back to back for 4 straight years, with over 2000 yards his senior campaign. With EE to the NFL that seems unlikely to top. Hershel Walker, Adrian Peterson, Archie Griffin, George Rogers all did back to back to back. Probably a few more but I'm thinking it's rarified air.

 

[TerryP]

It would be a short list. And they would have All-American and Heisman by their name most of the time. Tony Dorsett is the only one I know of that had back to back for 4 straight years, with over 2000 yards his senior campaign. With EE to the NFL that seems unlikely to top. Hershel Walker, Adrian Peterson, Archie Griffin, George Rogers all did back to back to back. Probably a few more but I'm thinking it's rarified air.

Emmitt didn't get three straight. I thought about him when I posed the question and he came up short his second year--like Darby, not by much. He only had three years of play at UF.

Interestingly enough, very few blue-blood programs in the list of those backs that have had that kind of success. And even then there's argument these are not blue-blood programs based on championships.

I found this list over the weekend on Sports Reference. One question answered so far... NO Bama player has had three straight.

 

[BAMANEWSBOT]

Damien Harris Needs Big Year To Set Alabama Record

Derrick Henry went into the 2015 season with 1,372 career rushing yards, not very close to the then-Alabama career record of 3,565 established by Shaun Alexander from 1996-99. Henry turned in a Bama one-season record of 2,219 rushing yards in his 2015 Heisman Trophy record season to give him the Alabama career record of 3,591.

Damien Harris will go into his final season at Bama this year with 2,194 career rushing yards.

Can Harris surpass Henry for the all-time career rushing record?

It’s not out of the question, but it will take an outstanding season of 1,397 yards (that would rank fifth in all-time single-season Tide rushing) to equal Henry’s record.

Harris has rushed for 1,000 yards each of the past two season, exactly 1,000 last year when he was splitting time with Bo Scarbrough, who had 596. And, of course, Harris also shared rushing opportunities with quarterback Jalen Hurts, who had more carries than Harris (154-135) and with the man who is expected to get plenty of carries this year as a sophomore, Najee Harris (61 carries for 370 yards).

As a sophomore, Harris had 146 rushes for 1,037 yards and Hurts again had more carries, 191 for 954 yards. Scarbrough, since departed for the NFL, had 125 carries for 812 yards that season.

Hurts almost certainly will have opportunities for carries this year, but he is expected to be splitting time at quarterback with Tua Tagovailoa. Tagovailoa also has running ability, but would not be expected to run as much as Hurts.

Harris averaged 7.1 yards per carry as a sophomore and 7.4 yards per carry last year. In those two years, he had 281 carries for 2,037 yards, an average of 7.3 per carry.

Alabama will continue to split running time at tailback, as has been the case throughout the Nick Saban era.

If Harris could average 7.3 yards per carry in 2017, he would need 192 rushes to get to the Henry record, about 50 more than he has averaged the past two years. Expect Najee Harris (and Josh Jacobs and Brian Robinson, Jr.) to get their chances and for the quarterback to continue to be involved in the running game, but it’s reasonable that Damien Harris could make that jump.

In addition to Henry’s 2,219 yards in 2015, Alabama running backs who have rushed for more than that 1,397 yards needed are Trent Richardson in 2011 with 1,679, Mark Ingram in 2009 with 1,658, and Bobby Humphrey in 1986 with 1,471.

Alabama tailback Damien Harris has had two 1,000-yard rushing seasons and needs another big season to set Tide career rushing record

 

[JoshB]

I would be shocked if he gets 1,000+ in 2018. I know Bo is gone but I expect a healthy Josh Jacobs and Najee to get plenty of carries. Maybe if Damien starts getting hot he'll get a chance but I would think time is going to be split fairly evenly. If Jalen is the QB he's going to get plenty of carries, too and I think that even if Tua is the starter, Jalen is going to get his touches every week whether it be in a Wildcat-style package or what. Tua will also get some "carries" on scrambles and maybe even the occasional read option.

 

[Rolltide24]

Lamar Jackson came up 40 yards short of having 3 consecutive years. 4,132 rushing yards over 3 years by a QB is pretty cool.

 

[SnakeFan]

I would be shocked if he gets 1,000+ in 2018...

I’d like to see 1K apiece

 

[EasyTider]

Quickly rising up my list of favorites in the Saban era. Kid runs like a bull and is obviously smart, well spoken, humble and a selfless teammate.

Is it just me or does he favor Jordan Peele?

 

[JoshB]

Quickly rising up my list of favorites in the Saban era. Kid runs like a bull and is obviously smart, well spoken, humble and a selfless teammate.

Is it just me or does he favor Jordan Peele?

It's just you.