Alabama’s running back room was depleted down the stretch of last season as Jase McClellan and Roydell Williams both suffered injuries prematurely ending their seasons which have carried over into the offseason.
On Wednesday during his weekly press conference, head coach Nick Saban provided an encouraging update on both running backs who will hopefully be competing for the starting role this fall.
“They’re doing great,” Saban said. “They’re in black jerseys, they’re both practicing non-contact. Jase is a little ahead of Roydell because he got hurt a month earlier. But they’re both doing fine and I’m pleased with the running back situation.”
McClellan originally suffered a knee injury during the Ole Miss game and Williams suffered a similar knee injury during the New Mexico State game.
With both players getting eased back into action, Georgia Tech transfer running back Jahmyr Gibbs has received a ton of attention early on in the spring. On Monday, quarterback Bryce Young said Gibbs had done a great job all throughout the offseason program.
Saban had a chance himself to talk about Gibbs and what kind of player he hopes he can be now with the Crimson Tide.
“He has really been a very good addition to our team,” Saban said. “He’s got great speed, he’s really a good receiver, good third-down back, he’s got great vision, he’s got really good burst out of a cut. I’m really, really impressed with what he’s been able to do. He’s smart, he’s picked up things, he’s an experienced player. He really does a good job of understanding what we’re trying to do and how to do it and that’s what experienced players can do. He’s done a really, really good job.”
Along with Gibbs, Saban complimented freshman running back Jamarion Miller along with redshirt junior Trey Sanders who was called upon to step up as the team’s second running back alongside Brian Robinson when McClellan and Williams went out.
“We’ve got some experience there,” Jamarion Miller has shown some promise as a young player, Trey Sanders is doing good — that’s not an issue on our team at all. We’ve got lots of good players there and we’ll have plenty of depth when the other guys get back.”
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Patrick Dowd is a Reporter for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can follow him on Twitter, via Pat_Dowd77
