During the 2023 NFL regular season, Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs became the 11th rookie to compile at least 945 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns while averaging more than 5 yards per carry.

The former Alabama standout joined Saquon Barkley as the only players among the 11 who also had at least 52 receptions in their rookie season.

After that PFWA All-Rookie team performance, Gibbs became the eighth rookie in NFL history with at least 144 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns in the postseason. And he’s the only one in that group who also had 11 or more receptions.

During his press conference at the NFL Scouting Combine, Lions general manager Brad Holmes was asked about Gibbs’ rookie showing after he traded up to select the running back at No. 12 in the 2023 NFL Draft.

“My evaluation on him was exactly what he did this year,” Holmes said. “I do think he’s got a lot of meat on the bone, as well. I think I’ve said it ad nauseum: He’s a multi-faceted, explosive weapon that can do a lot of different things. He’s electric. I believe he’s a gamebreaker.”

Holmes said Gibbs made an adjustment in his game that allowed him to enjoy a strong season while sharing the ball-carrying duties with David Montgomery.

“I thought this was a real credit to him,” Holmes said. “He actually recognized that he was going a little too fast. And early on, he was. He’s such a fast, explosive player, he was almost going too fast, and once he kind of caught up to the speed of the game and realized, ‘You know what? I know I’m fast. I trust my speed. I know I’m explosive. I don’t need to go but so fast.’ And so that’s when I think his vision started to get a lot better.

“We never really had any concerns about his vision, but once he figured out the speed at which he needed to play and got up to that speed, he became the player that we thought we were going to get, and, again, I think he’s got a whole lot more left in the tank.”

Gibbs and Houston Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr. pushed to nine the number of former Alabama players who have gone to the Pro Bowl or similar all-star events as rookies. They followed Joe Namath, Derrick Thomas, Eddie Lacy, C.J. Mosley, Amari Cooper, Najee Harris and Mac Jones.

Gibbs helped Detroit win the NFC North with a 12-5 record, reach the playoffs for the first time since the 2016 season and advance to the NFC Championship Game for the second time in franchise history.

FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.