How Alabama Running Back Room looks after Najee Harris
Alabama has completed their spring practice and now looks ahead towards fall camp and the season. With the season coming up it’s time to look ahead. Alabama lost a lot of talent on offense with 5 first round picks and 7 total picks on offense, with two tight ends becoming Undrafted Free-Agents.
This part of the series looks at how the running back room looks after Najee Harris got drafted.
Alabama had depth at the running back position last year and it was shown throughout the season. Najee Harris had most of the production last year but the other backs were able to show their skills. Brian Robinson Jr. was able to play the 1B back while other backs played more of clean-up duty.
Left: Najee Harris
Alabama has to not only replace the production Najee Harris’ production but everything he meant off the field to the team and community. He ended is college career with back-to-back 1000 yard seasons. In the 2020 season, he had 1566 yards and 26 touchdowns in route to becoming the career leader in both categories at Alabama. He took over games at times, his five rushing D game against Ole Miss or the five total touchdown game in the SEC championship, and will be hard to replace.
New: Camar Wheaton
Camar Wheaton signed during the normal signing period and is joining the team over the summer but expect him to see some playing time during the season. He is the second best running back in the 2021 class and the 31st best overall player. It’s a loaded backfield this season but expect Wheaton to make some noise when he arrives on campus.
Stay: Brian Robinson Jr., Keilan Robinson, Jase McClellan, Trey Sanders, Roydell Williams
Redshirt-Senior Brian Robinson Jr. looks to take over in his fifth year after playing second fiddle to Najee Harris last year. He will provide leadership to a position that has depth but inexperience. Behind him Keilan Robinson and Jase McClellan, both guys who have seen some playing time but usually comes in garbage time look to show what they can do as second stringers playing more. Keilan Robinson sat out of the 2020 season but showed potential in 2019 with 254 yards and two long touchdowns over 8 games. Jase McClellan played that role last season and had 245 yards and touchdowns over 4 games. Behind them is Trey Sanders and Roydell Williams. Sanders has suffered season ending injuries the last two seasons after coming in as a highly rated back out of high school. Williams saw minimal time over last season.
The running back position could end up being one of the stronger position for Alabama if the talent can come around and meet expectations. If that is the case Bryce Young will be one happy quarterback with the pressure being taken off of him in his first year as a starter. How the running backs behind Brian Robinson Jr. perform this year could set up big years in the future as well.
- Brian Robinson Jr.
- Keilan Robinson
- Jase McClellan
- Camar Wheaton
- Trey Sanders
- Roydell Williams
Maxwell Donaldson 
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