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Alabama football: 5 bold predictions for the Crimson Tide in 2020

By Cody Williams

TUSCALOOSA, AL - NOVEMBER 09: Jaylen Waddle #17 of the Alabama Crimson Tide warms up prior to the game against the LSU Tigers at Bryant-Denny Stadium on November 9, 2019 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
TUSCALOOSA, AL - NOVEMBER 09: Jaylen Waddle #17 of the Alabama Crimson Tide warms up prior to the game against the LSU Tigers at Bryant-Denny Stadium on November 9, 2019 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) /
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Alabama football (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

Alabama football bold prediction No. 4: Najee Harris, Trey Sanders combine for 2,500 scrimmage yards

Anyone who doesn’t think Najee Harris is line for a monster season in 2020 is kidding themselves. The once highly touted recruit seemed to have the lightbulb go off midway through last season and was an absolute star down the stretch. Overall, he finished the year with 209 carries for 1,224 yards and 13 scores along with 27 receptions for 304 yards and seven more scores.

Even if Waddle is going to have a big breakout season, there should be a change in offensive philosophy with the Crimson Tide from what we’ve seen in recent years. That will likely mean that Harris will see a huge uptick in his carries, pretty comfortably topping the 250 mark, and perhaps in his receptions as well.

The thing about Alabama, though, is that they tend to utilize multiple backs, especially when they’re focusing on the run over the pass. And while Brian Robinson Jr. is also back, young Trey Sanders, a former 5-star recruit in his own right, is returning from a preseason injury last year. And in doing so, my forecast is that he overtakes Robinson for the RB2 role in the offense.

With the talent and versatility that both Harris and Sanders possess, the Alabama backfield is going to be near-impossible to stop. Considering that Harris topped 1,500 scrimmage yards alone last season, with the touches increasing for the running backs in 2020, the combination of Harris and Sanders is going to top a whopping 2,500 scrimmage yards this season.

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