Nick Saban snatched the most explosive running back prospect from the state of Georgia in this year’s recruiting class.
Justice Haynes, a five-star, had an incredible career at Buford (Ga.) High School. As the son of a Bulldogs legend, Haynes collected 7,574 yards and 95 touchdowns across four years. He balanced football and baseball, earning MaxPreps All-American honors in 2019. The 5-foot-11, 200-pounder chose the University of Alabama over 30 other schools, including the University of Georgia. His father, Verron Haynes, was a running back at Georgia and was a fifth-round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2002.
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Haynes has an opportunity to secure early playing time as a freshman. The Crimson Tide graduates Jahmyr Gibbs to the NFL Draft, but it returns Jase McClellan, Roydell Williams, and Jamarion Miller. Haynes enrolled early and participated in Allstate Sugar Bowl prep, helping the Tide prepare for Kansas State. He possesses the size, vision, power, speed, explosiveness, versatility, and playmaking abilities to become Alabama’s next marquee back. He is dominating the strength training process with a private coach. Joel Seedman, a strength and performance coach, shared a video on Twitter of Haynes squatting 400 pounds.
He performed the routine with ease, executing squats at 90 degrees. Seedman said his athletes rarely get injured, and they dominate their respective sports at the highest level. Bo Scarbrough, a former Tide running back, has been a mentor for Haynes and believes he carries a mixture of former players such as Mark Ingram, Derrick Henry, Josh Jacobs, and Eddie Lacy.
Here’s RB @justicehaynes6 for @AlabamaFTBL on 90 Deg Squats which is research proven to be optimal for humans. Shoutout to GSP @CoachEarl_ getting his skills on the football field stellar . #squats #squat #StrengthTraining #weightlifting #powerlifting #FitnessMotivation pic.twitter.com/C4fMGP7Gsz
— Joel Seedman (@SeedmanJoel) February 5, 2023
Haynes looks to show what he’s about in spring practice.
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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.
