TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Alabama has a lot of talented running backs on its 2018 roster.

But one that is often overlooked is taking advantage of his opportunity this spring.

With Bo Scarbrough declaring for the 2018 NFL Draft and rising junior Josh Jacobs sidelined by an ankle injury, rising sophomore Brian Robinson has shown continued improvement.

“I think he’s improved tremendously,” rising senior tailback Damien Harris said Monday. “Just trying to perfect his craft just like everybody else. We’ve got a lot of young guys that are stepping up and playing really well right now, they’re practicing hard, so it’s good to see a lot of young guys stepping up to that role and kind of embracing the challenge.”

The Hillcrest (Ala.) High School product doesn’t get the same attention outside of the program as either Harris -- Damien or Najee -- but there’s no shortage of respect for Robinson inside the Crimson Tide facility coming off a productive freshman campaign.

Alabama RB Brian Robinson

As a reserve last season, the Tuscaloosa native rushed for 165 yards and two touchdowns on just 24 carries. He also saw time at H-back as an extra blocker in short-yardage situations for Alabama’s first-team offense and added two tackles on kickoff coverage.

This spring, Robinson has been third in line during individual drills behind Harris and Harris, and reporters have even spotted him at fullback during goal-line drills. Reeling off some impressive runs in the Tide’s first of three scrimmages Saturday, the rising sophomore is exactly that -- rising -- as he’s showing signs of progress between Year 1 and 2 at Alabama.

“He’s always been a bulldozer-type running back,” rising junior linebacker Terrell Lewis said. “His freshman year, we had a situation where he met me in the hole. I was like, ‘You weren’t going to juke?’ And he was like, ‘Nah, I was going to go through you.’ He’s definitely been a guy that can be that physical back, but he can make moves. To me, he’s an every-down back.”

While Lewis respects Robinson as a player, he’s not willing to relinquish his Twitter handle.

“He gets on me about my Twitter name, ‘@_Real24_,’” Lewis said. “We have little battles about who is the real (No.) 24. But he’s been doing real well this spring. He runs the ball real hard, he’s a real aggressive runner, he gets you yards. I know for a fact if he gets the ball, he’s going to get yards.”

With Scarbrough not returning, Alabama will look to give his 124 carries, which were good for third on the team behind Harris (135) and quarterback Jalen Hurts (154), to someone else this fall. The younger Harris showed why he deserves some of those with his play in the national championship game, while Jacobs provides UA with a change-of-pace back.

But don’t sleep on Robinson, because the Tide could lean on more than just two tailbacks.

“I think it’s important for all of us to be the best players that we can be,” Harris said. “I don’t think it’s just a 2-guy rotation. I think that there’s not really just a guy.

“We’ve all shared roles since I’ve been here, every group that I’ve been a part of has seen significant playing time. So, I think that that’s why it’s important for everybody to be able to play in situations, whenever your number’s called you’re able to go in there and execute and play to the standard of what Coach Saban has said. I think that it’s important for every guy to be ready to be thrown in at any time in the game.”

Contact Charlie Potter by 247Sports' personal messaging or on Twitter (@Charlie_Potter).