BAMANEWSBOT
Staff
Elite running backs are a known commodity at Alabama.
More times than not, the Crimson Tide is overstocked, with once-promising prospects transferring after struggling to crack into the lineup.
With outstanding recruitment at the position, the past several years have featured a revolving door of lead tailbacks. And that trend will undoubtedly continue as junior Derrick Henry takes over as the star attraction this season after pairing with NFL-bound T.J. Yeldon during the past two.
But what will the rest of the Tide’s running back rotation look like? One practice into spring drills, it’s already starting to take shape.
Senior tailback Kenyan Drake is fully healthy and back in action five months after suffering a gruesome injury to his left leg, when it was twisted in several places against Ole Miss. Behind him are a pair of fresh faces in freshmen Bo Scarbrough and Desherrius Flowers, the latter an early enrollee out of high school. Scarbrough sat out last season while dealing with eligibility issues.
Any of the aforementioned tailbacks could see major carries at any number of Southeastern Conference programs.
There’s also the always-valuable H-back role that bruiser Jalston Fowler filled so well the past few years. With so many unknowns regarding that position, the blocking/receiving H-back could see a lot of flux this spring as coaches determine how properly to utilize it in a more spread-out scheme.
Departed (2014 stats): T.J. Yeldon, Jr., RB — 194 rushes, 979 yards (5.05 ypc), 11 touchdowns, 75.31 ypg. Altee Tenpenny, Soph., RB — 26 rushes, 136 yards (5.23 ypc), 11.33 ypg. Jalston Fowler, Sr., HB — 12 rushes, 69 yards (5.75 ypc), 4.93 ypg.
Spring flings (2014 stats): Derrick Henry, Jr., RB — 172 rushes, 990 yards (5.76 ypc), 11 touchdowns, 70.71 ypg. Tyren Jones, Soph., RB — 36 rushes, 224 yards (6.22 ypc), 2 touchdowns, 22.40 ypg. Kenyan Drake, Sr., RB — 22 rushes, 112 yards (5.09 ypc), 4 touchdowns, 22.40 ypg. Buddy Pell, Soph., RB — 2 rushes, 15 yards (7.5 ypc), 15 ypg Bo Scarbrough, Fr., RB — n/a Desherrius Flowers, Fr., RB — n/a Ronnie Clark, R-Fr., RB — n/a Lawrence Erekosima, R-Fr., RB — n/a Johnny Dwight, R-Fr., HB/TE — n/a suspended for spring Incoming: Damien Harris: 5-star RB.
Storylines: Drake’s taking No. 2 reps behind Henry makes him the early favorite to provide Alabama a change-of-pace option out of the backfield. And then there’s the young but promising talents of Scarbrough and Flowers, athletes eager to make an immediate impact. So, can anyone emerge out of the loaded backfield and provide Alabama with a little “thunder-and-lightning” combination this fall?
Outlook: Drake has been cleared to return to practice and appears healthy. Alabama head coach Nick Saban said last week that Drake ran a 4.4-second 40-yard dash during workouts and is “getting his speed back.” That’s a welcome sign for the Tide. But outside of Drake and Henry, who appears bigger each day, the competition at tailback will continue to be an interesting angle to Alabama’s offensive reloading as it replaces most of its passing game. With the turnover at quarterback, receiver and on the offensive line, the running backs will be depended on to provide stability on offense, especially early on. Alabama’s H-back doesn’t provide nearly the same confidence as coaches still are tinkering with the position, with some moving and shaking among the H-back and tight end positions possible.
Decatur Daily—Continue reading...
More times than not, the Crimson Tide is overstocked, with once-promising prospects transferring after struggling to crack into the lineup.
With outstanding recruitment at the position, the past several years have featured a revolving door of lead tailbacks. And that trend will undoubtedly continue as junior Derrick Henry takes over as the star attraction this season after pairing with NFL-bound T.J. Yeldon during the past two.
But what will the rest of the Tide’s running back rotation look like? One practice into spring drills, it’s already starting to take shape.
Senior tailback Kenyan Drake is fully healthy and back in action five months after suffering a gruesome injury to his left leg, when it was twisted in several places against Ole Miss. Behind him are a pair of fresh faces in freshmen Bo Scarbrough and Desherrius Flowers, the latter an early enrollee out of high school. Scarbrough sat out last season while dealing with eligibility issues.
Any of the aforementioned tailbacks could see major carries at any number of Southeastern Conference programs.
There’s also the always-valuable H-back role that bruiser Jalston Fowler filled so well the past few years. With so many unknowns regarding that position, the blocking/receiving H-back could see a lot of flux this spring as coaches determine how properly to utilize it in a more spread-out scheme.
Departed (2014 stats): T.J. Yeldon, Jr., RB — 194 rushes, 979 yards (5.05 ypc), 11 touchdowns, 75.31 ypg. Altee Tenpenny, Soph., RB — 26 rushes, 136 yards (5.23 ypc), 11.33 ypg. Jalston Fowler, Sr., HB — 12 rushes, 69 yards (5.75 ypc), 4.93 ypg.
Spring flings (2014 stats): Derrick Henry, Jr., RB — 172 rushes, 990 yards (5.76 ypc), 11 touchdowns, 70.71 ypg. Tyren Jones, Soph., RB — 36 rushes, 224 yards (6.22 ypc), 2 touchdowns, 22.40 ypg. Kenyan Drake, Sr., RB — 22 rushes, 112 yards (5.09 ypc), 4 touchdowns, 22.40 ypg. Buddy Pell, Soph., RB — 2 rushes, 15 yards (7.5 ypc), 15 ypg Bo Scarbrough, Fr., RB — n/a Desherrius Flowers, Fr., RB — n/a Ronnie Clark, R-Fr., RB — n/a Lawrence Erekosima, R-Fr., RB — n/a Johnny Dwight, R-Fr., HB/TE — n/a suspended for spring Incoming: Damien Harris: 5-star RB.
Storylines: Drake’s taking No. 2 reps behind Henry makes him the early favorite to provide Alabama a change-of-pace option out of the backfield. And then there’s the young but promising talents of Scarbrough and Flowers, athletes eager to make an immediate impact. So, can anyone emerge out of the loaded backfield and provide Alabama with a little “thunder-and-lightning” combination this fall?
Outlook: Drake has been cleared to return to practice and appears healthy. Alabama head coach Nick Saban said last week that Drake ran a 4.4-second 40-yard dash during workouts and is “getting his speed back.” That’s a welcome sign for the Tide. But outside of Drake and Henry, who appears bigger each day, the competition at tailback will continue to be an interesting angle to Alabama’s offensive reloading as it replaces most of its passing game. With the turnover at quarterback, receiver and on the offensive line, the running backs will be depended on to provide stability on offense, especially early on. Alabama’s H-back doesn’t provide nearly the same confidence as coaches still are tinkering with the position, with some moving and shaking among the H-back and tight end positions possible.
Decatur Daily—Continue reading...
