Alabama Football G13 vs Missouri SEC Championship 2014 v
Derrick Henry (27) will be Alabama's top returning rusher this spring.
(Vasha Hunt/vhunt@al.com)
It's coming. Spring football starts again March 13 in Tuscaloosa as Alabama turns the page.
A few months after the 2014 season ended in the Sugar Bowl, the Crimson Tide will have some serious work to do this spring. Another new quarterback will see a rebuilt group of receivers while the defense has to replace key linebackers and backs.
We'll take a day-by-day look at what to expect from the 15 spring practices before they get started. Day 3: Running backs.
BY THE NUMBERS
-- Derrick Henry: 172 carries, 990 yards (5.8 average), 11 touchdowns.
-- Tyren Jones: 36 carries, 224 yards (6.2 average), 2 touchdowns
-- Kenyan Drake: 22 carries, 112 yards (5.1 average) 4 touchdowns
THE DEPARTED
-- T.J. Yeldon 194 carries, 979 yards (5.0 average), 11 touchdowns
-- Altee Tenpenny 26 carries, 136 yards (5.2 average), 0 touchdowns
-- Jalston Fowler 12 carries, 69 yards (5.8 average) 0 touchdowns
SPRING CAST
-- Derrick Henry
-- Kenyan Drake
-- Bo Scarbrough
-- DeSherrius Flowers
(Tyren Jones suspended indefinitely)
BURNING QUESTION
How healthy is Kenyan Drake after breaking his leg Oct. 4 against Ole Miss?
STAR ATTRACTION
For the first time in his Alabama career, Derrick Henry will be the top dog in Alabama's backfield. After playing the No. 2 role to Yeldon last year and being the third option most of 2013, the former No. 1 recruit will carry a heavier burden in 2015. It will be interesting to see how he handles the lead job after starting slow in a few games last year. Henry was huge in the second half in big games against Florida, Missouri and Auburn to help finish the deal.
FLASH OF POTENTIAL
Without question, the player to watch this spring and fall will be Drake. The rising senior was just starting to show the versatility and potential for creative use in Lane Kiffin's offense when his season ended abruptly at Ole Miss. The first-play, 87-yard touchdown reception against Florida showed Drake can do damage in the passing game when linebackers are matched in coverage. Drake did it with speed, so it will be interesting to see if that was impacted just months after the gruesome broken leg.
WILD CARDS
Then there's Bo Scarbrough. The former 5-star is eligible and ready for action a year after initially signing with the Tide. He's big (6-foot-2, 235 pounds) and Saban previously said they like his ability in the passing game as well. Alabama likes his physical style that could be a change of pace from the rest of the Tide backfield.
DeSherrius Flowers is one of the freshmen who enrolled early coming out of Vigor. He also bring impressive size at 6-1, 210 pounds and one of the top-15 running backs in the 2015 class. Another signee, Damien Harris, is a top-3 back, but he doesn't arrive until the summer.
The status of Tyren Jones remains in question after being suspended indefinitely last month. Also, Ronnie Clark moved from safety to running back last October before tearing his Achilles tendon in practice. It's unclear where he'll be when practice starts next week.
FACTS OF LIFE
11 - More yards gained by Henry (990) than Yeldon (979) last year to claim the leading-rusher crown for 2014.
8.1 - average yards per carry for Henry in the final three games of the season against Auburn, Missouri (SEC title) and Ohio State (Sugar Bowl).
QUOTABLE
"We think Bo (Scarbrough) is a multi-talented guy but we look at him as a running back first. He has really a diverse skill level for a big guy, he's a physical guy. He has really good running ability but he also has great receiving skills. He's actually played as much wide receiver as he has running back."
-- Nick Saban on Bo Scarbrough on National Singing Day 2014.