Jahmyr Gibbs says Alabama practices were harder than NFL

Former Alabama running back Jahmyr Gibbs said the Crimson Tide’s practices under Nick Saban were harder than the NFL.

Gibbs was just drafted by the Detroit Lions with the No. 12 overall pick, so it hasn’t ramped up yet for the running back. But so far, the Lions’ practices seem like a walk in the park by comparison.

Gibbs said Saban tried to run his players into the ground, in a good way of course.

“Saban, we’re probably hitting every day,” Gibbs said. “Full pads, in the heat for two hours. Here, we get good work in, but they don’t try to kill us.”

Saban had his reasons of course. You don’t become, arguably, the greatest college football coach of all time by accident.

It certainly paid off for Gibbs, a first-round pick.

Gibbs played one season at Alabama after two at Georgia Tech. He finished his college career with 2,132 yards, 15 touchdowns, 5.6 yards per carry, 103 receptions, 1,212 receiving yards and eight touchdown receptions.

In 12 games last season, Gibbs had 151 carries, 926 yards, seven touchdowns, 6.1 yards per carry, 44 catches, 444 receiving yards and three touchdown receptions.

“They’re going to get a pick. They’re going to get a special guy,” Former Alabama linebacker Will Anderson said in January. “He’s very good, very athletic, can move. I’m super excited to see where his future is. His cuts are ridiculous, his top end speed is crazy, trying to catch him downhill is crazy. Any team that gets him is going to be very blessed to have him.”

As a member of the Class of 2020, Gibbs was a four-star recruit out of Dalton (Ga.) High, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He was the No. 13 overall prospect in the state, the No. 9 running back in the class and the No. 79 overall prospect in the class.

Gibbs was an interesting pick by the Lions considering what they had in the backfield. But Detroit dealt D’Andre Swift to the Philadelphia Eagles, clearing up space at running back.

David Montgomery is the lead back as of now, but head coach Dan Campbell will likely go to a committee approach.

Gibbs isn’t the only rookie running back in Detroit either. Former Minnesota star Mohamed Ibrahim is also on the roster.