Last August, Justice Haynes couldn’t wait for the competition this spring would entail.

On the sidelines after his Buford (Ga.) High trounced Birmingham-powerhouse Thompson High to open the 2022 high school season, Haynes was asked about being one of two elite running backs in Alabama’s upcoming recruiting class. Haynes nodded, bouncing his curls off his forehead, and smiled. Tuscaloosa was in store for a two-headed monster, he said, with Haynes a five-star and Florida’s Richard Young, a four-star, both committed to Nick Saban and co.

About eight months later, following the Crimson Tide’s second scrimmage, Haynes may be in contention for a starting role sooner than most thought. The 5-foot-11, 200-pounder has already made his way into the Crimson Tide’s backfield rotation — a position Saban said has “been great” during the practice season — and on Saturday, Saban spoke glowingly about the mid-year enrollee.

“(Haynes) has had a great spring,” Saban said. “He’s a really good player. He’s a real mature guy. He’s really smart. Nothing is really too big for him. He goes out there and competes and if you were just a guy sitting on a log watching him you would never know he was a freshman. He’s a very talented guy. He can make cuts. He can make you miss. He’s got some power. He’s got good speed, he’s a good reciever so, he’s done a really, really good job all spring.”

RELATED: Saban evaluates Alabama quarterbacks’ performance in second scrimmage

Nick Saban recaps Alabama’s second spring scrimmage: ‘Little up and down today’

Haynes’ father, Verron Haynes, was a Georgia running back and was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2002. Haynes followed in his footsteps and became a MaxPreps All-American as a freshman. He’d go on to total over 100 touchdowns and 8,000 yards of offense, including 11.1 yards per carry as a senior.

As new offensive coordinator Tommy Rees structures his game plan and picks a starting quarterback, having a stable of running backs to choose from could help produce a balanced attack. Roydell Williams, Jam Miller, Jase McClellan and now Haynes could all make a case for touches (Young is set to join the team this summer) which creates a potentially dangerous ground game should Jalen Milroe win the starting job or Ty Simpson continues to show off his athleticism.

“His speed, being able to catch out of the backfield,” Williams said of Haynes’ key traits. “Great guy. He learns well. He came in, ready to work. Overall, just a very, very smart kid. He’s about his business and knows what to do.”

While stats and depth charts aren’t made available to the media, Saban’s and other comments about Haynes are noteworthy. A year ago, Calera High wide receiver Kobe Prentice was cited by Saban as a first-year player whose impact on the roster was sudden. Prentice, a four-star recruit, eventually started the season and finished fourth on the team with 31 catches. In Haynes’ case, he has the pedigree to match the excitement.

Nick Alvarez is a reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @nick_a_alvarez or email him at [email protected].