Each day this week, I'll post some notes that hopefully provides a strong picture of where Alabama is at each position entering summer workouts. These posts will be a mixture of sourced info, opinion, and facts gathered over the course of spring drills.
Position: Running back.
*** Although he didn't show it on A-Day, Kenyan Drake put some serious speed on display during spring drills, including early scrimmage work. Two-time A-Day MVP T.J. Yeldon is clearly Alabama's best all-round back and No.1 at the position, but Drake may be the guy you would want in a 50-yard footrace with a safety. That sounds ideal for a No.3 back in a Nick Saban offense, but the player who backs up Yeldon as the No.2 this fall will be judged as much on pass protection and ball security as anything else. Those are the areas where Drake, Derrick Henry, Jalston Fowler, or any other back on the roster physically capable of backing up Yeldon, will have to separate themselves during fall camp in August.
Position: Running back.
*** Although he didn't show it on A-Day, Kenyan Drake put some serious speed on display during spring drills, including early scrimmage work. Two-time A-Day MVP T.J. Yeldon is clearly Alabama's best all-round back and No.1 at the position, but Drake may be the guy you would want in a 50-yard footrace with a safety. That sounds ideal for a No.3 back in a Nick Saban offense, but the player who backs up Yeldon as the No.2 this fall will be judged as much on pass protection and ball security as anything else. Those are the areas where Drake, Derrick Henry, Jalston Fowler, or any other back on the roster physically capable of backing up Yeldon, will have to separate themselves during fall camp in August.
