Alabama freshman tailback Bo Scarbrough tore an ACL late in Friday afternoon's scrimmage and will undergo surgery that could affect his playing status for the 2015 season.
Scarbrough, a five-star signee in 2014 who was not eligible for August enrollment, scored two touchdowns in his first scrimmage. Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban said in Friday's news conference that he did not know the severity of the injury to the 6-foot-2, 235-pounder, but the Tuscaloosa News reported the ligament tear early Saturday morning.
"Bo was doing pretty well, but we've had injuries, suspensions and lost some people at that position," Saban said Friday. "So what seemed like a pretty strong position for us, depth-wise, has gotten a little thin."
Scarbrough's setback comes on the heels of Saban dismissing redshirt sophomore tailback Tyren Jones for marijuana possession. Jones had been suspended for rules violations in February.
Junior Derrick Henry, who rushed for 112 yards and a touchdown on just 11 carries Friday, is the Tide's top tailback. Kenyan Drake is the expected backup, but the senior is finishing his recovery from a broken leg suffered at Ole Miss last October.
Alabama did sign the nation's top running back, Damien Harris of Berea, Ky., in February. Harris will arrive this summer.
Williams commits
Alabama has five commitments for its 2016 class after receiving a nonbinding pledge this weekend from Jonah Williams, a 6-5, 275-pound tackle from Folsom, Calif. Williams is rated as the No. 10 tackle by Rivals.com and 247Sports.com, with the latter ranking him as the No. 74 overall prospect.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.