Summer School: What we know, don't know about Alabama's running backs

Editor's Note: This is the fourth in a nine-part series breaking down Alabama’s 2019 roster position by position leading up to SEC media days, which take place July 15-18 in Hoover.

TUSCALOOSA — While its passing game set new program heights last season, Alabama is still a run-first team at heart, which is why losing its top two running backs from a year ago might be concerning.

Yet even with the departures of Damien Harris and Josh Jacobs to the NFL, the Crimson Tide ground game doesn’t appear to be getting any less dynamic.

Harris and Jacobs combined for 1,516 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns on the ground last season, accounting for more than half (50.9 percent) of Alabama’s total rushing yardage and 60.6 percent of its 33 rushing touchdowns in 2018.

But while Harris was the unquestioned starter and offensive captain, Jacobs was arguably the most vital nonquarterback on the Crimson Tide offense last season.

The eventual first-round draft pick of the Oakland Raiders produced a team-leading 1,315 total yards and 15 touchdowns last season, including 640 rushing yards and 11 scores in a mostly backup capacity.

Harris, who once again led the Tide on the ground with 150 carries for 876 yards and nine touchdowns in 2018, was drafted by the New England Patriots in the third round of April’s NFL draft after closing out his four-year career in Tuscaloosa with 3,070 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns.

Despite the clear loss of production, running back has been a relative afterthought among Alabama faithful this offseason, mostly because of the wealth of five-star talent Nick Saban has recruited the last few years. That includes junior Najee Harris and true freshman Trey Sanders, who signed in February as the nation’s No. 1 rated tailback according to the 247Sports.com composite rankings.

With that in mind, here’s a look at what we know and don’t know about the Crimson Tide’s tight end group:

THE LINEUP

Jerome Ford (R-Fr.), Najee Harris (Jr.), Brian Robinson Jr. (Jr.), Keilan Robinson (Fr.), Trey Sanders (Fr.).

WHAT WE KNOW

What we know is Alabama still has one of the SEC’s most talented running back rooms.

Whether it’s the dynamic Najee Harris, who ranked second in the league last season after averaging 6.7 yards (783 rushing yards on 117 carries), or physical Tuscaloosa-product Brian Robinson Jr., or five-star freshman Trey Sanders, the Crimson Tide backfield is fully loaded, with the potential to be even more explosive than in 2018.

Of course, for that to come to fruition, it’s going to take a superior season from Harris, a big-play threat every time he touches the ball but also one that takes a few too many chances with his affinity for hurdling opponents. That recklessness can sometimes lead to carries for no- or negative-gain, while also exposing the former five-star tailback to potential injury.

Make no mistake about it, Harris is the Tide’s No. 1 option out of the backfield and will be depended on frequently this season, with some fans wondering if the 6-2 and 230-pound playmaker can carry the load by himself much like Derrick Henry in 2015. While that’s unlikely simply given the players like Robinson and Sanders behind him, Harris is someone that can move the ball in bunches when given the chance, something he’s waited two years to achieve and now has.

Meanwhile, Robinson, who had 63 carries for 272 yards and two touchdowns in 2018, is considered more of a short-yardage or goal-line option with a more north-south approach to running the ball, which tends to go over well at Alabama. If Harris and Robinson can take the next step in their games, the Crimson Tide tandem will be more than enough to carry the offensive rushing load next season, especially given the wealth of talent in the passing game.

“I really feel like Najee and B-Rob are both really good players,” Saban said in April. “I think both of them have got a significant amount of experience in the past, (and) I think they’re ready to take the next step in terms of making a really significant contribution. They both had really good springs.”

WHAT WE DON’T KNOW

What we don’t know is how quickly the ultra-talented Sanders will pick up Alabama’s offense enough to become the team’s second- or third-option out of the backfield.

In a Crimson Tide offense that regularly utilizes at least three running backs in a game, having a player of Sanders' ability as a backup option to gain yards both on the ground and through the air will be important as it breaks in under first-year offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian.

Measuring out at 6-foot and 214 pounds, Sanders is widely considered a complete, do-it-all tailback, and was arguably Alabama’s most significant addition on National Signing Day. Given his credentials, along with some spring comments from Saban that all-but-confirmed it, Sanders will be afforded every opportunity this preseason to climb up the depth chart. Still, the expectation is the true freshman tailback has the ability to contribute early and often and will be counted on to make plays this season.

“We have had a lot of diversity at running back, but most of the time, there has been a young player that contributes to that, almost always a freshman,” Saban said in April without specifically mentioning Sanders. “So, I would expect that we get some help from that group from some young players, as well.”

Of course, beyond Sanders is a bit of a question mark.

Redshirt freshman running back Jerome Ford was the Tide’s only running back signee in last year’s recruiting class and has some experience after appearing briefly in four games last season to still qualify for a redshirt. And then there’s the OTHER scholarship tailback in this most recent signing class: 5-foot-9 and 184-pound scatback Keilan Robinson of Washington D.C., a four-star recruit who ranked 244 overall and 15th running back according to the 247 composite. Robinson — no relation to Brian Robinson Jr. — is considered more of a project option who will need time to develop a role on offense, but could very well become the Tide’s next Josh Jacobs-like playmaker in the future.

THEY SAID IT

“They’re making progress. I mean, do they have things to work on? Absolutely. Do they have the ability to make plays? I think so. Do we have some guys coming here that are going to get an opportunity to compete with them? I think so.” — Alabama head coach Nick Saban on team running backs.

COMING FRIDAY

We know who will be handling the ball next season, but what about those all-important blockers tasked with affording them time to do something with it? Tomorrow we’ll examine Alabama’s offensive line, a unit that dealt with quite a bit of offseason turnover.

PREVIOUS POSITIONS

Tight end