"You're a truck," Dillon Sain told B.J. Emmons when he saw the Alabama running back earlier this week.

It was the first time they had seen each other since November. Noticeable immediately for Sain was how much broader and more muscular Emmons looked in the upper body.

After weighing about 210 pounds as a freshman last season, the 6-foot sophomore running back is up to a muscular 237 pounds, is only eight percent body fat and has told Sain that he feels faster than ever. That's notable considering a then-232-pound Emmons ran the 40-yard dash in 4.43 seconds at the Under Armour All-America Combine when he was in high school.

Not many outside the Alabama program are talking about Emmons these days, focusing more on others like Bo Scarbrough, Damien Harris, Josh Jacobs and five-star freshman Najee Harris when discussing the Crimson Tide's depth at running back. Don't forget about Emmons, the No. 2 running back and No. 35 overall prospect in last year's recruiting class, according to the 247 Sports Composite Rankings.

At least some at Alabama believe Emmons was the most explosive running back on the team last season before suffering a Lisfranc fracture in his foot that ended his year and required two surgeries. Back healthy, Emmons will be a factor in what will be an intense competition for playing time at running back when the Tide starts fall camp in August.

"He's trying to get into that running back rotation, and he feels like he can do it," said Sain, a close friend who was one of Emmons' assistant coaches in high school. "He talks about how all those guys at running back could be starters somewhere else, so he knows he's going to have to earn it. But he loves being with that group of guys because every day you're going against the best. Just competing against the best every day, he said you've got to bring it, that there's no slacking off and every day you're coming to prove yourself, and he wouldn't have it any other way."

Emmons showed some flashes last year before getting hurt, rushing for 173 yards and a touchdown during the first seven games. He also saw time as the Tide's primary kick returner and had a 26-yard kick return against Tennessee.

Emmons suffered the injury during a practice leading up to Alabama's game against LSU in early November. Surgery No. 1 was the day before the LSU game. Surgery No. 2 was in February, a pre-planned procedure to remove a plate that was put into Emmons' foot during the first surgery.

Recovery has been quicker than originally expected.

Initially told that he'd probably miss all of spring practice, Emmons was able to at least take part in spring ball on a limited basis and bench-pressed 425 pounds during Alabama's spring testing in March. That was tied for the most on the team among non-linemen.

The North Carolina native is expected to be able to practice without any limitations when fall camp begins in August.

"He looks extremely good, and he's looking good through his drills that I've had an opportunity to see on film," said Brandon Allen, Emmons' high school coach, "so I think when he gets into the fall that he's going to be great."

Emmons is friends with former Alabama and Tennessee running back Alvin Kamara, a versatile player who ran for 698 yards with the Vols last year while also catching 34 passes and returning nine punts.

Emmons believes he can be that same type of multi-dimensional player for Alabama, eager to prove worthy of seeing time at both running back and as a returner.

"He's really looking forward to seeing what he can do this year with having more experience, knowing more of the playbook, and he loves the new offensive coordinator (Brian Daboll) and thinks he's going to do a great job," Sain said. "... He's putting in extra work in to prove that B.J. Emmons is still here and he didn't go away."

Recently, Sain visited Clemson for a coaching clinic and jokingly sent Emmons a picture of the tombstone the school put up to commemorate its win over Alabama in the national championship game in January.

"You like this?" Sain joked.

"We're going to get that back this year," Emmons responded.

"He's said that he feels like he let the team down last year by being hurt," Sain said. "He said, 'This year, I'm going to help.'"