Alabama Athletics
Name: Justice Haynes
Position: Running Back
Recruiting Rank: 4-Star Prospect
High School: Buford High School (Buford, GA)
College: Started at Alabama before transferring to Michigan
Captain: No
Measurables
Height: 5’11
Weight: 210
40 Yard: 4.49
10 Yard: Unknown
Arm Length: Unknown
Hand Size: Unknown
Vertical: Unknown
3 Cone: Unknown
Broad Jump: Unknown
Bench: Unknown
Position Specific
Positives in Pass Game:
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Soft, natural hands when targeted; secures the ball away from frame.
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Comfortable in the flat and on checkdowns/screens, transitions quickly into a runner.
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Dangerous after the catch due to balance and acceleration, can turn short gains into chunk plays.
Negatives in Pass Game:
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Route tree limited, primarily used on swings, flats, and screens.
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Rarely asked to create separation against linebackers downfield.
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Inconsistent technique in pass protection—tends to lunge and miss leverage points.
Positives in Run Game:
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Elite vision and one-cut decisiveness—presses the line and finds daylight.
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Strong contact balance, breaks arm tackles with ease.
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Compact, powerful build—effective in short-yardage/pile-pushing situations.
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Quick-twitch agility with ability to string together multiple cuts.
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Burst to the second level with enough speed to finish long runs.
Negatives in Run Game:
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Top-end speed is good but not elite—won’t consistently run away from NFL DBs.
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Limited collegiate workload raises questions about durability under feature-back volume.
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Ball security not fully tested at the college level due to small sample size.
The Wrap-up
Summary: Haynes is a compact, decisive back with natural vision, outstanding balance, and the skill set to thrive as an early-down NFL runner. He profiles as a classic one-cut, inside-zone fit but has enough lateral agility to succeed in varied run schemes. His biggest developmental areas are pass protection and route running, which will determine whether he becomes a true three-down back or a committee piece.
Injury Concerns: None noted.
Character/Off-Field Concerns: None noted.
Projected Role: Short-yardage and red-zone weapon with upside as a three-down starter if passing-game skills improve.
Strong Points:
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Exceptional vision and one-cut burst
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Contact balance and ability to break tackles
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Compact build ideal for inside running and short-yardage work
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Natural leverage and toughness at the point of contact
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High football IQ and pedigree
Weak Points:
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Needs polish in pass protection
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Limited route-running experience
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Only moderate top-end speed
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Small collegiate sample size raises questions about workhorse capability
Exposures:
- Western Kentucky (2024)
- @ Tennessee (2024)
- Missouri (2024)
About the Author
Dalton Tinklenberg is the Founder and Media Director of The Scouting Depot, where he leads comprehensive coverage of college and professional football. He is an active member of some of the most respected organizations in sports journalism, including the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA), Maxwell Football Club, Online News Association (ONA), National Football Foundation (NFF), and the Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE).
Before launching The Scouting Depot, Dalton worked with Blue HQ Media, where he covered major sporting events such as the Indianapolis 500, the College Football Playoff, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.
Through his professional affiliations and on-the-ground experience, Dalton combines deep knowledge of the game with recognized standards of storytelling, editorial excellence, and authenticity in sports coverage.
