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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — According to one of his former teammates, University of Alabama running back Kenyan Drake’s recovery from a leg fracture has reached the running stages.
“Kenyan will be back,” T.J. Yeldon said a few minutes after announcing that he’s leaving school a year early to play in the National Football League.
“He’s healing pretty good. He’s been running, jogging a little bit.”
Drake sustained a horrific injury during the second quarter of the 23-16 loss at Ole Miss on Oct. 4 – the first game after he opened the Florida game with an 87-yard catch-and-run touchdown.
His junior season ended with 22 carries for 112 yards and four rushing touchdowns, along with five receptions for 159 yards and two receiving touchdowns.
“I’m feeling really good,” he told the Tuscaloosa News at the SEC Championship Game. “I’m walking around, the doctors told me I’m coming along really good with my rehab.”
Yeldon said that they talked on Thursday night, but didn’t discus if Drake had considered trying to make a similar jump to the NFL despite the injury.
Drake hopes to rejoin teammates on the field when the Crimson Tide opens spring practices in late March.
Even with Yeldon’s early departure and Jalston Fowler’s eligibility having expired, Alabama has a lot of depth in the backfield with returning players Derrick Henry, Altee Tenpenny, Tyren Jones, Bo Scarbrough having finally enrolled and early-enrollee Desherrius Flowers.
“Derrick, he did a fantastic job coming in after me and picking up when I was hurt,” Yeldon said. “He did a great job.
Damien Harris, a 5-star prospect like Scarbrough was last year, committed to the signing Class of 2015 on Friday.
“He’s big, he’s physical,” Yeldon added about Scarbrough, who practiced with the Crimson Tide for a week before Alabama headed to the Sugar Bowl. “He’s still learning. He’ll be good.”
Christopher Walsh has covered Alabama football since 2004 and is the author of 19 books. In his free time, he writes about college football.
