Alabama's 5-Star RB Trey Sanders Will Undergo Surgery for Foot Injury

The Alabama Crimson Tide were dealt a major blow after freshman running back Trey Sanders suffered a serious foot injury Thursday. He could miss the entire 2019 season.

"Trey Sanders did not scrimmage today because he had a foot injury that will require surgery," head coach Nick Saban said Saturday, per Alex Byington of the Montgomery Advertiser. "So he will be out indefinitely."

Sanders, a 5-star prospect, was considered the top tailback and No. 6 player overall in the class of 2019, per 247Sports' composite rankings. He was expected to make an impact for the Crimson Tide this season, though the team is deep at running back.

"Trey Sanders is doing really, really well in camp," Saban said last week, per Byington. "His work ethic is really good. He's learning every day. His attention to detail seems to be pretty good. He's got some ability that may be able to contribute to the team."

Sanders expressed a bit more confidence than that when he announced his decision to join Alabama, saying he planned on winning the Heisman Trophy:

That goal will have to wait a year.

Najee Harris and Brian Robinson Jr. will see the majority of the work without Sanders in the rotation, with Jerome Ford and Keilan Robinson also available for Saban.

"I think Jerome Ford was probably the leading rusher out there, but he probably ran the ball more than anybody else, and I think Keilan had some explosive runs and played fast and probably gives us something some of our other guys don't have when it comes to just being quick, fast and elusive," Saban said regarding Saturday's scrimmage.

Most teams would struggle to replace a player of Sanders' talents, but the Tide's incredible depth makes them one of the few programs capable of absorbing the blow.