Saturday Blitz
Fansided

Alabama Football: 3 breakout candidates for 2021 season

By Connor Muldowney

Trey Sanders, Alabama Football. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr/The Tuscaloosa News via USA TODAY Sports
Trey Sanders, Alabama Football. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr/The Tuscaloosa News via USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 3
Next
Oct 24, 2020; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Alabama running back Trey Sanders (24) is tackled by Tennessee defensive back Tamarion McDonald (21) in the fourth quarter in the second half during a game between Alabama and Tennessee at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020. Mandatory Credit: Caitie McMekin-USA TODAY NETWORK
Oct 24, 2020; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Alabama running back Trey Sanders (24) is tackled by Tennessee defensive back Tamarion McDonald (21) in the fourth quarter in the second half during a game between Alabama and Tennessee at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020. Mandatory Credit: Caitie McMekin-USA TODAY NETWORK /

There’s one high school football program in the country that produces dozens of Division 1 prospects every cycle and that’s IMG Academy. If you tap into that IMG Academy pipeline, you’re going to be set for the long run. Alabama has no problem pulling kids from the elite program.

One of the best prospects from IMG over the past few years has been former five-star running back Trey Sanders. He was ranked the No. 6 overall recruit in the 2019 class and the country’s top running back prospect. He redshirted as a freshman after suffering a season-ending injury in preseason camp and got his first snaps as a redshirt freshman before a car accident ended his sophomore campaign early.

Sanders showed flashes on 30 carries in year two, rushing for 134 yards in four games.

It’s safe to say he’s had some bad luck during his two years in Tuscaloosa, but the confidence has never faded and he has the potential to be the Tide’s next superstar running back. He should be behind Brian Robinson Jr. this season but I could see him being that RB2 option and really taking the nation by storm.

Will he approach 1,000 yards? It’s possible but that all depends on how many carries Nick Saban decides to split between his talented backs.

Sanders is on national breakout watch, however.

Next. Ranking college football's top 50 fanbases. dark

Home/Alabama Crimson Tide