Alabama’s offseason was one of turnover, but not in the offensive backfield. Jalen Milroe will still be at quarterback. And despite losing two senior running backs this offseason, the Tide has a strong position group aligned for 2024. It’s already gotten a glimpse this spring.
“You always want to have guys that can do different things. You obviously have to have toughness, have to have speed, vision. But the personalities are the fun part. I think everybody in the room brings something different to the table,” coach Robert Gillespie said.
Gone are the 1,600 yards and 14 touchdowns produced by Jase McClellan and Roydell Williams. Instead, third-year running back Jam Miller and second-year player Justice Haynes are expected to carry the load with Richard Young, freshmen Daniel Hill, and summer-enrolee Kevin Riley working in special teams roles while waiting to touch the ball.
Both Miller and Haynes recognize the leadership role that’s fallen onto them. Miller, who rushed for 201 yards and caught four other passes for 73 more, is trying to get everyone’s roles aligned “in order to dominate.” Haynes said he learned the value of patience last season. He tallied four of his 25 carries during the Rose Bowl against Michigan, sparking the Tide with 31 total yards. Miller caught his lone touchdown against the Bulldogs in the league title game.
When asked if Haynes did something to prove himself between the SEC Championship and College Football Playoff semifinal, played one month apart, Gillespie said Haynes just displayed a better understanding of the scheme. It ended the season on a high note for the former five-star recruit. After UA players flooded the transfer portal following Nick Saban’s retirement, both Haynes and Miller valued Gillespie’s retention on Kalen DeBoer’s staff.
“Great guy, great coach. It’s hard love. (Gillespie’s) gonna love you, he’s gonna rip you a couple times. That’s what you need as a coach. He’s gonna push you to where you want to go,” Haynes said.
The Tide offense will look different under DeBoer and offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan. But “football is football,” per Gillespie, so it’s more about becoming a well-rounded player. Both running backs have practiced catching the ball more out of the backfield and being a good enough route runner to be motioned outside for empty sets, creating a potential mismatch on a linebacker.
Haynes’ vision was apparent in his limited snaps last fall. Miller exploded for 6.1 yards whenever he had a catch or run. At times, though, both did struggle with pass protection and Saban and Tommy Rees optioned for veteran pieces. Alabama flashed its running backs as pass-catchers on wheel routes, but they should be able to do more in a DeBoer offense predicated on timing and speed when it’s not driving behind the offensive line.
“For these guys, there is a downhill physicality that I think they really have, but they have the ability to also make the jumpcut, get to the outside, turn on the speed. In the backfield, come out and we just find a way to get them touches and that’s what our offense really does is find ways to get the ball to its best players in space. The running back position, especially right now, for us, is certainly a strength when it comes to the athleticism, DeBoer said.
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