TUSCALOOSA, Ala.– Noticing him in pain took all the air from Alabama, its coaching staff and its fan base as Bo Scarbrough held his leg in frustration during the College Football Playoff National Championship versus Clemson in attempts to capture a national title.
After rushing for 306 yards in the first eight games, he went on a tear last season – starting with the LSU matchup – totaling 506 rushing yards and six touchdowns on 74 carries in the last five contests. In recovering from surgery, the general expectation was that Scarbrough would carry the same impact into this year. While the Tuscaloosa native is halfway toward his touchdown mark (11 in 2016), Crimson Tide fans have seen less explosive plays from him in space.
Much of this is due to the emergence of Damien Harris.
Like Scarbrough, Harris was a five-star prospect upon signing in 2015. Despite collecting a 1,000-yard output in 2016, the Kentucky native went vastly overlooked in the offseason.
Cutting sweets from his meal plan was the first step in Harris’ rise. He followed it up with getting more physical in the weight room and adding more speed to his runs. Although the extra focus has produced 697 yards and 10 scores for Harris, Alabama remains hopeful for Scarbrough.
“We have a lot of confidence in Bo,” Alabama head coach Nick Saban said. “We are not disappointed at all at what he’s done at this point of the season. I think Bo is a guy that can certainly be a physical, dominant player, and at times this year he has been that.”
He had been rehabbing from a knee injury that was suffered in his time at high school, leading into the Tide’s game versus LSU at Tiger Stadium a season ago. Regardless of the numbers – 11 carries, 52 yards – Scarbrough was effective and it led to a 10-0 victory for Alabama.
The opportunities have not been there for the junior to wreak havoc; however, it is this time of the year where the best players make themselves known and Saban knows it.
“I’m sure at some point this season you will see him (Scarbrough) sort of break out and show what he can do,” Saban said. “His presence will be felt and we hope it’s in each and every game from here on out.”
Thus far, Scarbrough has 377 yards rushing on 81 carries.
Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @Smsmith_TDALMag.
