TUSCALOOSA, Ala.– A small exodus prior to the start of the 2017 football season for the University of Alabama started with O.J. Smith, Shawn Jennings and T.J. Simmons, but two more players were added to the list on Thursday.
Sophomores B.J. Emmons and Aaron Robinson have left the program, via Matt Zenitz of AL.com.
While both guys signed in the Crimson Tide’s 2016 recruiting class, Emmons came as a four-star running back from Freedom High School in Morganton, N.C. Emmons, who’s gone from 206 to 220 pounds at Alabama, saw action in seven games before having a season-ending foot injury. He totaled 173 rushing yards on 35 carries, including a 6-yard touchdown versus Western Kentucky in the Tide’s home opener at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
His high school career ended with 6,599 yards rushing and 101 touchdowns.
Robinson, a native of Deerfield Beach, Fla., was a three-star prospect via 247 Sports. With Emmons gone, the Tide has juniors Bo Scarbrough and Damien Harris, sophomore Josh Jacobs, and a pair of freshmen studs in Najee Harris and Brian Robinson. The depth at running back could be interesting in 2018, but for now the focus is on the present.
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.
