When one plays against a legendary school from his home state, it wants to prove that program and itself the right decision was made to pursue the institution it did.
Justice Haynes is no stranger to the spotlight.
He was in Kirby Smart’s backyard throughout his high school tenure at Buford (Ga.) High School, but he chose the University of Alabama. His father, Verron Haynes, was a Georgia legend, but the patriarch respected his son’s choice to make the best move for him. Haynes helped the Crimson Tide take down the Bulldogs in the 2023 Southeastern Conference Championship Game, but now the meeting returns to Tuscaloosa (Ala.) for the first time since 2020.
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Haynes has 165 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 19 carries.
The 5-foot-11, 210-pounder is averaging 8.68 yards per attempt, but he is ready for Saturday to do more. He did not change his practice habits during the week, yet one can tell there is more energy to him for Georgia. Jam Miller, a redshirt junior, had the hot hand two weeks ago versus Wisconsin, but the other half of J and J services has his sights on doing damage to the ‘Dawgs.
“He has not changed anything,” Alabama running backs coach Robert Gillespie said Wednesday about Haynes’ preparation.
“I think the better program, better teams, better units, they don’t worry about who they are playing. It is easy to say Justice is working harder because we are playing Georgia, but he’s not and that’s the sign of a mature kid. Obviously he is a young guy, but he is mature enough to understand the same way you prepared for Western Kentucky … you prepare for Georgia. He’s probably got a little added excitement inside. His father played there, he is from the state of Georgia, but he is the ultimate pro. He has practiced the same way this week as he’s done in weeks before.”
Alabama fans have been waiting on a breakout game from Haynes.
It may come Saturday at 6:30 p.m. CT in an SEC showdown against Georgia.
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Stephen M. Smith is the senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
