Saban loves Alabama's RB group: 'That's not an issue on our team'

On3 imageby:Clint Lamb03/23/22

ClintRLamb

As long as the unit can avoid any major injuries, Alabama is going to field one of the country’s top stables of running backs this season. Yes, the Crimson Tide did lose was at least one significant contributor from what turned out to be an impressive collection in 2021, but all the additions clearly outweigh the losses.

To start, the Crimson Tide will have two of its key runners back from season-ending injuries in Jase McClellan and Roydell Williams. On only 103 touches, the two combined for 475 rushing yards, 154 receiving yards and 6 total scores before getting hurt last season. Plus, there are two new arrivals this spring with a third on its way in the summer.

The most significant of those new additions? Georgia Tech transfer Jahmyr Gibbs.

On Monday, star quarterback Bryce Young shared his thoughts on the former ACC running back.

“Jahmyr has worked really hard,” Young told reporters. “He’s done a great job of coming in and again, he’s someone who has really taken to the offense really well. Someone who’s done the little things right in our conditioning. And every week, he was winning an award being one of the top performers. You know, someone who came in and looked good, and worked and ran well last week.”

Then on Wednesday, coach Nick Saban was asked for his early opinion of Gibbs. Needless to say, the young running back is also making quite the impression on the seven-time national championship-winning head coach.

“He has really been a very good addition to our team,” Saban said. “He’s got great speed. He’s really a good receiver, a good third-down back. He’s got great vision. He’s got really good burst out of a cut. I’m really, really impressed with what he’s been able to do. He’s smart, he picked up things. He’s an experienced player. He really does a good job of understanding what we’re trying to do and how we’re doing it, and that’s what experienced players can do. He’s done a really, really good job.”

In two seasons with the Yellow Jackets, Gibbs churned out 1,974 total yards of offense (1,206 rushing, 768 receiving) to go along with 13 touchdowns. He’s also proven to be an impactful presence in the return game, averaging 25.6 yards on kickoff returns while even taking one back for a score.

At this point, we know Gibbs is about to be a significant part of Alabama’s backfield. The evergrowing hype train left the station weeks — or even months — ago. But what about the other running backs in that room? Well, Saban says McClellan and Williams are still working their way back from those injuries, but he loves what the entire group brings to the table.

“They’re doing great. They’re in black jerseys, they’re both practicing non-contact,” Saban said on Wednesday. “Jase is a little ahead of Roydell because he got hurt a month earlier, but they’re both doing fine. And I’m pleased with the running back situation. We’ve got some experience there.

Jamarion Miller has shown some promise. He’s a young player. Trey Sanders is doing good. I don’t know, that’s not an issue on our team at all. We’ve got lots of good players there and we’ll have plenty of depth when the other guys get back.”

Yeah, I think we’re all on the same page that the depth shouldn’t be an issue as long as everyone can get and stay healthy.

The impressive group currently consists of six players who were once top-100 prospects coming out of high school. Now to be fair, two of those are limited and one isn’t even on campus yet (Emmanuel Henderson). But as Saban mentioned, there will be plenty of horses in the stable once everyone is on campus and back to full strength.

Plus, most — if not all — of the scholarship ball-carriers have three-down capabilities. When discussing with your friends, that’s an important distinction between Alabama’s running back room and several other impressive groups around the country.

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