Nick Saban praises Alabama's running back depth following latest scrimmage
Nick Saban has as talented a running back room as ever at Alabama with Jahmyr Gibbs at the top of the depth chart. So far, the Georgia Tech transfer has been getting rave reviews in training camp and he’s among the pre-season Heisman favorites.
And the running backs who find themselves behind Gibbs on the Alabama depth chart are looking good, too. Trey Sanders, Jase McClellan, Roydell Williams and Emmanuel Henderson — who has been working at receiver — are all players Saban has confidence in.
“Well, I think Jahmyr had like 60 yards or something today on just a few carries,” Saban said after Saturday’s scrimmage, “He’s very explosive with the ball. Really good receiver. Really good all-around player. Jase, Roydell, those guys have done really well. Trey Sanders has done very well. So I feel really good about five running backs that we have. Emmanuel Henderson we’ve been working at receiver some and he’s been doing a nice job of making progress there.”
Gibbs amassed 1,974 scrimmage yards in two seasons with the Yellow Jackets, scoring 13 total touchdowns and will be a threat out of the backfield both as a rusher and receiver for the Crimson Tide.
Sanders has 501 total yards and two touchdowns in two seasons at Alabama. McClellan has found the end zone more in his two seasons with the Tide, scoring six touchdowns to go with 534 yards from scrimmage. Williams, in two seasons at Alabama, has 412 total yards and three touchdowns. Henderson is a true freshman and though he came in as a running back, he’s been working at wide receiver, as Saban noted.
While Gibbs will surely remain the main feature in the backfield alongside reigning Heisman winner Bryce Young, Saban is confident in the rest of the running back ensemble to keep the Alabama offense humming along