Including QB Jalen Hurts, Alabama returns its top four ball-carriers for 2017. With only so many running plays to call – and some likely to be designed runs for Hurts – one might wonder how Crimson Tide offensive coordinator Brian Daboll can possibly incorporate five running backs into the gameplan.

The first-year play-caller welcomes the challenge.

“Look,” Daboll said at Alabama media day, “running back is a position that you can’t have too many of.”

Five-star recruit Najee Harris and 4-star recruit Brian Robinson join a backfield that returns its top three backs from last season in Damien Harris (146 carries, 1,037 yards, 2 TD), Bo Scarbrough (125 carries, 812 yards, 11 TD) and Josh Jacobs (85 carries, 567 yards, 4 TD). Daboll says he can find ways to get all five involved.

“You can find creative ways to try to use them, and everyone will have a role if they earn that role,” Daboll said. “So, there’s good players with all five of those guys, really. They’ve done a good job in the spring. And again, we’ve been out here for two days on with no pads on right now, so really it’s more of an execution, a detail, an assignment thing.”

Returning a one-two punch of Scarbrough and Damien Harris would have any coach thrilled. Though Jacobs had the fewest touches of the three veterans, Pro Football Focus called him the most elusive returning running back in college football. All signs point to Najee Harris as being a significant contributor his freshman season, potentially in the passing game. Robinson would be one of the most talked-about backs on any other roster, rated the No. 7 running back in the country on the 247Sports Composite.

For many coaches Alabama’s stable of running backs is truly an embarrassment of riches, but Daboll sounds like he has a plan.