Saturday Blitz
Fansided

Alabama Football: 5 potential breakout candidates for spring 2019

By John Mitchell

BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA - NOVEMBER 03: Brian Robinson Jr. #24 and Kyriq McDonald #26 of the Alabama Crimson Tide take the field prior to their game against the LSU Tigers at Tiger Stadium on November 03, 2018 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA - NOVEMBER 03: Brian Robinson Jr. #24 and Kyriq McDonald #26 of the Alabama Crimson Tide take the field prior to their game against the LSU Tigers at Tiger Stadium on November 03, 2018 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 6
Next
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

4. Brian Robinson Jr. (RB/Junior)

With incoming freshmen Trey Sanders and Keilan Robinson not reporting to Tuscaloosa until the summer, Alabama is left with just three scholarship running backs to go through spring practice with after losing Damien Harris and Josh Jacobs from last season’s team.

Junior Najee Harris has the No. 1 spot locked down, but there’s an opening for a player to step up and grab the complimentary role. Saban has always preferred to employ multiple backs so as to keep everyone fresh, even though Harris has a Derrick Henry-like build that should allow him to hold up with a workhorse load.

Junior Brian Robinson, a Tuscaloosa native, figures to be the next man up to take on a bigger role in 2019. Robinson has struggled to get on the field over his first two seasons with the Crimson Tide with the depth of talent Alabama has boasted at the position. It should be, noted, however, that Robinson played enough both seasons to not redshirt; Saban and the coaching staff thought he was too talented and valuable to shelf for an entire season.

While he hasn’t seen any meaningful carries yet, Robinson has been employed as a fullback at times in goal-line and short-yardage packages as well as being a valuable member of the special teams units. He’s rushed for 437 yards on a 5.0 yards-per-carry clip with four touchdowns over his two seasons.

Robinson is a former four-star recruit who has a lot of talent. Coaches have raved about his ability, and now is his time to step up and earn significant playing time. He’ll be battling with redshirt freshman Jerome Ford throughout the spring for the backup role, and then the competition will get tougher in the summer once Sanders, the nation’s top-rated high school running back, arrives in Tuscaloosa.

With Sanders, and Keilan Robinson, missing spring practice, Robinson will have the opportunity to gain a significant advantage over both. His progress will be interesting to track this spring as he pushes for a larger role next season.

Home/Alabama Crimson Tide