Experience at ILB and RB under Nick Saban (tad long, skip to end if ya want)

For a couple of years now you may have seen me point out the importance of returning one of our two (or sometimes three) ILBers. We've done it every year under Saban.

Rolando McClain returned in 2008.

In 2009 both Ro and Dont'a Hightower returned, though Hightower got injured. Nico Johnson stepped up.

In 2010 both Hightower and Johnson returned, and CJ Mosley came in as a True Freshman and got almost 70 tackles in 13 games, sharing the WILL position with Nico.

In 2011 Hightower, Johnson, and Mosley all returned.

In 2012 Johnson and Mosley returned. Trey DePriest joined in to continue the 3 man unit at ILB.

In 2013 Mosley and DePriest returned.

In 2014 DePriest returned, with Ragland stepping up and outplaying DePriest.

In 2015 Ragland returned. Reuben Foster and Shaun Hamilton both play alongside him.

In 2016 we'll bring back Foster and SDH.


So we regularly have experienced (and talented) players at ILB. That's good.


But I never truly realized the same could be said for RB. I do want to point out, however, that I'm not sure experience is all that important for a College RB. For Pass Pro yes, and of course you need reps reading blocks and making your cuts, so maybe I should say I think of all the positions on the team, RB is the least effected by returning experience.

When Mark Ingram took over in 2009 he had backed up Glen Coffee the year before, and had 143 career rushes.

When Trent Richardson took over in 2011 he had backed up Mark Ingram the two years prior, and had 256 career rushes.

When Eddie Lacy took over in 2012 he had backed up Trent Richardson the year before, and had 151 career rushes*.

When TJ Yeldon took over in 2013 he had backed up Eddie Lacy the year before, and had 175 career rushes.

When Derrick Henry took over this season he had backed up TJ Yeldon the year before, and had 207 career rushes.


*Eddie Lacy had only 95 carries as the #2 back, his turf toe is to thank for that, but that total is the fewest #2 back had the year before becoming the starter. It is worth noting Eddie Lacy got off to a slow start in 2012, and aside from a big game against Mizzou he never really got hot until the LSU game. We could chalk that up to lack of experience as one of the two main backs, or we could chalk that up to a lingering turf toe.


Anyway, while we return experience at ILB next season, we do not return much at RB. Derrick Henry is likely to head to the NFL, and Kenyan Drake (224 career carries through 4 seasons) is a Senior so he has no eligibility left.

Bo Scarbrough (5 star, #2 ranked RB in his class behind Leonard Fournette) and Damien Harris (5 star, #1 ranked RB in his class) will be back after seeing a few touches this season. Both are True Freshmen, though Bo got here a year late due to issues qualifying. They're both talented, there is no doubt about that. However, Harris only had 44 career rushes (though that could still go up this year) and Bo only has 15 career rushes (same, could still go up).


Are you worried about the RB position next year due to lack of experience (plus bringing in a new QB), or do you think they'll both be fine and their talent will outweigh any lack of experience?

tl;dr: Last two paragraphs I guess