Some college football programs are among the best in the sport in building stars for the future. The Alabama Crimson Tide has become one of the top programs in the SEC. This program, under former head coach Nick Saban, became a school where players can help turn into potential NFL stars.
The Crimson Tide, under Saban, have accumulated 133 total players drafted in the NFL Draft. Of those players, 47 were drafted in the first round. Some of them have been running backs and they have made a name for themselves in the league.
This 2024 NFL Season is a clear example of the great program that Alabama has encountered in turning players into stars in the NFL. While certain positions can be highlighted, running backs is a position group that has made Alabama into a pro-ready NFL factory or ‘Running Back U.’
This season was a big success for running backs in the NFL. They proved that it isn’t turning into a passing-only league. Several running backs got to take in the spotlight with some being former Crimson Tide players.
Alabama led all college football teams in NFL rushing yards and running touchdowns in the regular season, according to the Tide’s Twitter post. The Tide running backs accumulated 6,536 yards and 61 touchdowns. Among the backs who had solid production this season were Derrick Henry (Baltimore), Jahmyr Gibbs (Detroit), Josh Jacobs (Green Bay), Najee Harris (Pittsburgh) and Jase McClellan (Atlanta).
Three of the top six rushers in the NFL this season were former Alabama players. Henry rushed for 1,912 yards and a league-high 16 touchdowns. Gibbs rushed for 1,412 yards and 16 touchdowns as well. Finally, Jacobs rushed for 1,329 yards and 15 touchdowns. Henry just turned 31 and is playing elite. Jacobs will turn 27 in February and Gibbs will turn 23 in March.
Meanwhile, Harris can be a more efficient running back if he finds a more steady and reliable offensive line. Robinson is a young star in the Commanders’ offense. Finally, McClellan has plenty of time to develop just finishing his first season in the league.
Alabama could have another future NFL star player in the backfield in Jam Miller. This season, Miller rushed for 668 yards and seven touchdowns on 145 carries in a crowded Tide backfield. Miller is returning to Alabama in the 2025 season as a senior.
No other college football program had more than one former player rank in the league’s top 16 rushers. Only Georgia had more than one in the top 20 running backs. Alabama had four top rushers in the top 15.
The Bulldogs make a good case of Running Back U. James Cook and D’Andre Swift are great dynamic playmakers in the running and passing games. Oklahoma and Iowa State are two more collegiate programs proud of the development of their running backs. They are the only other two schools that have running backs move into the top 30 rushers this season.
The Crimson Tide is one of the top programs in the nation for developing NFL-caliber running backs. All six of their current rushers in the league have a chance to get even better.
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