Justice Haynes was one of Nick Saban’s biggest wins on the recruiting trail in the 2023 cycle. Alabama beat out Georgia for the 5-star running back, and Tide fans were convinced he would be the next great back in Tuscaloosa. Saban’s retirement after Haynes’ freshman year created some uncertainty, but Haynes stuck around in 2024 under Kalen DeBoer. He finished as Alabama’s third-leading rusher with 448 yards on 79 carries, posting a team-best 5.7 yards per attempt.
Still, the flashes never quite matched the hype. Haynes rarely showed the vision or explosiveness that made him so coveted out of high school, and his decision to hit the Transfer Portal last winter barely raised an eyebrow in Tuscaloosa.
Unlike several former Tide players who transferred only to regret it, Haynes has flourished at Michigan. The Wolverines have leaned on him in a way Alabama never did, and he’s delivered. Haynes has eclipsed 100 yards rushing in all four games this season, piling up 537 yards and six touchdowns while averaging over eight yards per carry. By himself, he has outgained Alabama both on the season and on a per-game basis.
Explosiveness has been the hallmark of his resurgence. Alabama’s lone run of 50-plus yards came on a garbage-time touchdown by freshman AK Dear. Haynes already has four such runs this year, including two 75-yard scores. With 66 carries through four games—just 13 shy of his total from last season—Michigan has given him the workload he craved. On Saturday, he powered the Wolverines to a 30–27 win over Nebraska with 149 yards on 17 carries.
The move north has been a revelation for Haynes, and a painful reminder for Alabama. Since Jahmyr Gibbs, the Tide haven’t had a true difference-maker at running back. Jam Miller could change that when healthy, but right now, Haynes is proving to be exactly that for Michigan. He’s found a scheme that fits his game, reestablished himself as one of the country’s best backs, and put his name back on NFL draft boards.
Meanwhile, Alabama’s run game has sputtered. The Tide rank 121st nationally in rushing success rate, and in two of their first three contests, they failed to top 100 yards as a team. Under DeBoer and play-caller Ryan Grubb, Alabama has leaned into the passing game, especially with Ty Simpson emerging as a more accurate quarterback. Simpson has been sharp, but the lack of a consistent rushing attack makes the Tide more one-dimensional.
Alabama fans and coaches may not have realized what they had in Justice Haynes. Michigan did—and the payoff has been enormous.
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