Justice Haynes, Jamarion Miller look to lead Alabama’s latest 1-2 punch

Throughout Alabama’s rich history, the running back duos who helped make the Crimson Tide college football’s preeminent power are legendary. Whether it was Major Ogilvie and Tony Nathan, Chris Anderson and Derrick Lassic, Dennis Riddle and Shaun Alexander, Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson, Alabama may have found potentially its next duo in Justice Haynes and Jamarion Miller.

Sophomore Justice Haynes finished with a career-best 102 rushing yards on only four carries against Western Kentucky in the season opener against Western Kentucky. Haynes’ 85-yard score was tied for the seventh-longest rush in school history. It was also the Tide’s longest rushing touchdown since Bo Scarbrough’s 85-yarder at Tennessee on Oct. 15, 2016.

Junior Jamarion Miller complemented Haynes against Western Kentucky finishing with 54 rushing yards on five carries that included a 39-yard touchdown run.

Running backs coach Robert Gillespie assessed Miller and Haynes’ performances that displayed a bit of power and speed, "Obviously, we want to pound it and do the things we have to do to get the nasty 3-4-yard gains. Then when the opportunity comes to become explosive and get 1-on-1 in space, we got to make a guy miss then we have to have breakaway speed,” Gillespie said. "I think that both of those guys show that they do have the speed, but there were also some tough and physical runs where when the offensive line gives us half a man, we got to get the pads low."

The biggest thing Gillespie conveys to his room, the talent will see action but the player who can give Alabama the best chance to win will get the majority of the reps, "It's the same thing I've been doing three to four years," Gillespie said. "If you have a talented room, you've got to let those guys play a bit and let them get flowing because it's a long season. We're trying to play 16-17 games. It's not about keeping someone happy, it's about playing the best guy that helps us win."

As the 2024 season progresses, Miller and Haynes will continue to jockey for the majority of the reps, but they cannot worry about the immediate, they have to think big picture that if the goal for the Crimson Tide is to play 16 or 17 games, as Gillespie alluded to, they have to complement each other for success.