Alabama fans witnessed the future of its backfield Saturday against Charleston Southern.
The Crimson Tide will lose Kenyan Drake (graduation) and Derrick Henry to the NFL Draft, so this week became an important for two freshmen to emerge, Bo Scarbrough and Damien Harris.
Both players were five-star athletes upon enrolling at Alabama, yet have different running styles. Scarbrough, 6-foot-2, 240 pounds, is a powerful north-south runner.
He has speed once he reaches the second and third levels of a defense, but he thrives on yards after first contact.
Harris, 5-foot-11, 205 pounds, possesses some power but is more of a quick hits back.
Scarbrough and Harris both achieved a milestone, in scoring their first collegiate touchdowns as Alabama players.
Scarbrough’s came late in the second quarter on a one-yard run, increasing Alabama’s lead to 49-0 before halftime.
Harris crossed the end zone in the fourth quarter on a six-yard touchdown run, making the Tide’s lead 56-6. Alabama would go onto win by the same score.
Scarbrough finished as the team’s leading rusher with 69 yards on 10 carries. Harris chimed in with 44 yards on 10 attempts.
Stephen M. Smith is a senior analyst and columnist for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @ESPN_Future.
