Jahmyr Gibbs gives Alabama football something it has not had consistently at running back since Kenyan Drake.
Gibbs brings explosiveness and a dynamic running style that provides instant offense.
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Crimson Tide fans expected him to be quick, fast, elusive, and electric, but they received much more from the Georgia Tech transfer on A-Day. The 5-foot-11, 200-pounder was the best back on the field inside Bryant-Denny Stadium. Horrible field conditions did not prevent his quick cuts, contact balance, vision, burst, and acceleration. Gibbs showed patience in pressing the hole, but his quickness to run inside or bounce runs outside was impressive. He averaged 11.1 yards per rushing attempt on nine carries. Gibbs had an explosive 8-yard run on third down to give the Crimson team a first down, but his 75-yard touchdown turned several heads in the stands.
He quickly achieved maximum speed on the run and confirmed comparisons to Alvin Kamara and Reggie Bush.
Gibbs led all backs with 100 yards rushing and earned the Dixie Howell Most Valuable Player honor. He became the eighth MVP performer as a running back since 2008, joining Damien Harris, T.J. Yeldon (three-time MVP), Trent Richardson, Mark Ingram, and Terry Grant. Coach Nick Saban knew what he was adding when he pursued Gibbs in the transfer portal.
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“Fast is fast,” Saban said after A-Day on what he thought about Gibbs in the portal. “The guy gets to top speed quickly, and it is obvious. He gives us something at the running back position because he’s really good at pressing the holes, but he has a great burst to get to top speed quickly and set up blocks. He is a very good running back, a very good receiver, a good third-down back, so he’s a very good addition.”
Coach Saban looks forward to getting Jase McClellan and Roydell Williams healthy for preseason camp, but it appears that Gibbs is running back No. 1 for the Crimson Tide. Alabama captured a national championship in 2011 and 2012 after Richardson and Yeldon earned MVP honors in the spring game. Gibbs can be the third A-Day MVP to assist the program to a national title.
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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 @CoachingMSmith.
