Justice Haynes was a massive recruiting win for Nick Saban in the 2023 cycle. Alabama beat out Georgia for the 5-star RB, who Tide fans were convinced would be the next great RB to come through Tuscaloosa. Saban retired after Haynes’ freshman season, but he stuck it out in 2024 with Kalen DeBoer and the new staff. Haynes was Alabama’s third-leading rusher last season, racking up 448 yards on just 79 carries with a team-leading 5.7 yards per attempt.
Haynes rarely displayed the vision or breakaway speed that made him such a coveted high school prospect, and most Alabama fans didn’t bat an eye when he decided to enter the Transfer Portal last winter. It was not unexpected.
But while plenty of other Alabama players have had instant regrets, finding the grass wasn’t greener in a new location, Haynes has found instant success at Michigan. That only serves to further exacerbate Alabama’s struggles running the football…