Alabama football has been fortunate the runners Saban have recruited have panned out. Former running backs coach Burton Burns was the facilitator in ensuring that the backs reached their full potential.
The running back’s value in the NFL has steadily declined. However, this is not the case in Tuscaloosa. Recruits understand that if they play at Alabama, they are running behind road pavers that allow them to run to daylight plus a bonus of playing for an offensive coordinator that will feed the beast.
Before Saban’s arrival in 2007, Alabama’s last big-time running back was the notable Shaun Alexander.