With Josh Jacobs and Damien Harris headed to the NFL, Alabama has two big holes to fill in the backfield alongside Najee Harris.

2019 should be Harris’ time to shine, along with returner Brian Robinson, who has been good when he’s received carries. Still, Alabama usually has four quality backs capable of starting on several teams, and it enters 2019 as a position of less depth than in the past.

Nick Saban spoke to the media Tuesday evening, and he was asked about his current backs.

“I really feel like Najee (Harris) and B-Rob (Brian Robinson) are both really good players,” Saban said. “I think both of them have gotten a significant amount of experience in the past. I think they’re ready to take the next step in terms of making a really significant contribution. They both have had really good springs. Past that, Jerome Ford is kind of a newcomer who’s shown some flashes. We’ve got a couple of other guys coming in in this freshman class. So, we have had a lot of diversity at running back.

“Most of the time, there’s been a young player that contributes to that, almost always a freshman. You know, Mark Ingram was a freshman when Glen Coffee was here. Trent Richardson played some when he was a freshman and Mark (Ingram) was the player. … I would expect that we get some help from that group from some young players as well.”

It seems the nation’s No. 1 back and Alabama signee Trey Sanders will arrive just in the nick of time. Sanders isn’t at Alabama this spring, but he’ll arrive in time for fall camp. It’s clear that Saban expects Sanders to provide an immediate spark in the backfield, too.

Along with Sanders, 4-star signee Keilan Robinson will also arrive ahead of fall camp. Robinson was the nation’s No. 15 overall running back. He’s also very capable of helping Alabama’s offense immediately.

It’s not out of the question that both Sanders and Robinson can provide offensive spark immediately.