Hoover, Ala.– Having two marquee players suffer critical injuries was one of the reasons why Alabama football didn’t finish the job in the College Football Playoff National Championship back in January.
After surging in games versus Tennessee, LSU, Auburn, Florida and Washington, running back Bo Scarbrough suffered a broken leg during the third quarter against Clemson. As for senior inside linebacker Shaun Dion Hamilton, he emerged as one of the team’s leading tacklers a season ago – prior to tearing his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his knee versus Florida in the Southeastern Conference title game.
Upon addressing the press during Wednesday’s portion of SEC Media Days, Alabama head coach Nick Saban said both players should be fine when fall practice starts next month.
“Bo has done all of the work all summer long,” he said. “So you know he’s really fine. Shaun Dion Hamilton, who we held out in the spring, but has done everything all summer long. Seems to be getting along really, really well and should not have any restrictions going into fall camp.”
Both players return in leadership roles, and especially for Hamilton with filling in for the departed Reuben Foster. Hamilton recorded 64 tackles, including nine for loss and two sacks. Scarbrough ended his sophomore campaign with 812 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns on 125 carries. He turned in two 100-yard performances, with one coming in the CFP semifinal matchup versus the Huskies. The 6-foot-2, 235-pounder rumbled for a school-record 180 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries, guiding the Tide to a 24-7 victory.
Stephen M. Smith is a managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @Smsmith_TDALMag.
