Jase McClellan and Roydell Williams gave all they had to the University of Alabama as running backs.
Both came in the 2020 recruiting class and helped the Crimson Tide win a College Football Playoff National Championship as freshmen. McClellan and Williams battled injuries, but they remained tough leaders for the program in the Nick Saban era.
McClellan heads to the NFL Draft and Williams transferred to Florida State University. The Kalen DeBoer era is bringing a potentially deadly 1-2 punch at running back with Justice Haynes and Jam Miller. Haynes, a former five-star in the 2023 signing class from Buford, Ga., started to flash massive potential in the Rose Bowl Game against Michigan. He gave the Tide’s offense a spark when its offensive line struggled to protect Jalen Milroe. Haynes finished the season with 168 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 25 carries. The 5-foot-11, 205-pounder is hungry for more as he’s set up to be the starter in the rotation.
Miller, a former four-star in the 2022 class from Tyler, Texas, complements Haynes with his speed, contact balance, versatility (pass-catching), and effort on special teams. He had 41 carries in 2023 for 201 yards rushing and a touchdown.
The 5-foot-10, 211-pounder provides a burst, explosiveness, and power to break tackles to offset defenses.
Alabama’s run of national championships in the Saban era started with a 1-2 duo at running back. Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson complimented each other well in 2009. Ingram was the shifty runner and receiver with more bounce while Richardson carried more power (breaking tackles) and speed. The combination of both allowed Saban to hold the BCS National Championship trophy at Rose Bowl with a 37-21 victory over Texas. Saban saw the 1-2 punch continue with duo such as Richardson/Eddie Lacy, Lacy/T.J. Yeldon, and Derrick Henry/Kenyan Drake before Alabama became a stable of backs.
Haynes and Miller are prepared to be the deadly duo back to Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Haynes said on Friday that it is time for he and Miller to ‘take over.’
“It is definitely great,” Haynes said about the energy he and Miller play with. “Jam, that’s my dawg. We talk about being that 1-2 punch all the time, and just being deadly. We talk about doing special things here. That’s my dawg, and I wish him the best.”
Richard Young, a former five-star in the 2023 class from Florida, will have a say in this too. Alabama fans look forward to seeing how much he has grown, especially after watching him have nine carries last year — including one for a touchdown.
The running back room should be a sight to behold with Haynes and Miller leading the way.
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