Player Profile: Jeramie Griffin

Jeramie Griffin - #34 – RB – 6-0 – 228 lbs. – Batesville, MS – South Panola HS – Redshirt

There aren’t many guaranteed spots on the depth chart headed into fall camp, but with Baron Huber having possibly moved to linebacker, Jeramie could be the only scholarship player left at the Fullback position. With that in mind, you would have to assume that he’ll be option #1 at the position.

That’s a bit misleading, however, as it is unclear exactly how much Alabama will actually use a Fullback. The Ole Miss game in 2007 was the only game that Bama utilized a 2-back offense for any real time during the game, and that is likely to be the case again this year.

Jeramie is not strictly a fullback, however. He played Running Back in High School, and played it successfully. And this wasn’t at your garden variety, backwoods High School. There are few High Schools in the South that are more dominant in their area than South Panola High School – 5 Time Defending 5A Champions in Mississippi, the Tigers last lost a game when they were defeated in the 2002 State Championship Game.

2008 Prospectus: It’s easy to guess that Jeramie will be the Fullback when Bama does use a 2-back offense. Though in short yardage situations, don’t be at all surprised to see him lined up at Tail Back with one of the Tight Ends serving as an H-Back in front of him.

Nick Saban has shown a propensity in the past to love short yardage backs (see Jacob Hester at LSU), those big bruising guys that can get tough yards when you need them the most. With his history of having been a featured back in High School, this transition should be no problem for Jeramie.

There are certainly more athletic players at the Running Back position, but none offer the strength and power of Jeramie. That alone should mean that he’ll see some time in the back rotation. It’s likely that most of his time will be spent in short yardage, whether it’s as the guy carrying the ball or the one blocking for him.

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