Everything Alabama RB Jahmyr Gibbs said ahead of second scrimmage
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — On Friday, new Alabama running back Jahmyr Gibbs spoke to the media for the first time since transferring in from Georgia Tech back in January. The ultra-talented ball-carrier had a lot of interesting things to say in his debut, including why he came to Alabama.
Below, you can check out everything Gibbs said during his media availability.
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On why he came to Alabama…
“I think it was the best opportunity for me to better myself. No knock on my teammates. I love them. I still talk to them every day. Great group of guys but I made the best decision for me.”
On his personal goals for this season…
“I don’t really look at that very much. I’m more of a team guy. I want to win a national championship first.”
On if he was recruited by Alabama coming out of high school…
“I was but it wasn’t like a big push.”
On being an effective kick returner…
“I’ve always kick returned for as long as I’ve played football. It’s pretty natural to me. I think the most important thing to a kick returner, obviously you have to be fast. You have to be able to read the wholes. You have to know the block schemes on a return.”
On difference of mindsets between a returner and a running back…
“Basically it’s the same thing. The holes, they’re gone just like that so you have to hit them with speed.”
On the toughest defense on Alabama’s defense…
“All of them are great. Will (Anderson). Henry (To’oTo’o), he’s smart. He’s probably one of the smartest players I’ve played against. He knows how to fill gaps, side to side. All of those guys are good.”
On his transition to Alabama’s running back room…
“Yeah, it’s been great. They welcomed me with open arms. Like, it feels like I’ve already been there. The first two months, it seems like I’ve been there two years. They welcomed me. Me, (Jordan) Battle, Marco (DeMarcco Hellams) and BB (Brian Branch) all watch some movies together. Me, Trey (Sanders) and Jase (McClellan), Roydell (Williams), we hang out every day. So with them, it’s just been a great experience.”
On how he went from being everything at Georgia Tech to another weapon…
“I feel like it will be great either way. If it’s on me or not on me, I know we’ll get the job done either way.”
On the culture change going from Georgia Tech to Alabama…
“I mean, it wasn’t really a huge difference because there’s a lot of coaches at Alabama who is at GT right now. So it’s basically the same thing.”
On his biggest strength…
“Catching out of the backfield. That’s what the NFL likes so I try to do my best to model my game after Christian McCaffrey or Aaron Jones. Players like that who catch out of the backfield.”
On his chemistry with Bryce Young…
“It’s been great. We talk through how I’m going to run my routes. How he wants them and we just adjust off each other.”
On the depth in the running back room and his relationship with those guys…
“Them boys are cool. Them boys, they are funny. I like them a lot. When I first got here, they taught me what it’s like being here. They talk me through games and stuff. Coach (Robert Gillespie), I’ve known him since high school since he recruited me at UNC so we already had a little relationship. So it wasn’t like I was meeting a stranger. I already knew him. I like him a lot.”
On working with Bryce…
“It’s been great. Bryce (Young) is very smart. He’s very instinctive. He knows exactly where the ball is being placed before the ball is every snapped. Like, it’s crazy. I don’t even know how to explain it.”
