Alex Scarborough, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

Kenyan Drake's return a bright spot for Alabama

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- It was a positive moment overshadowed by a negative one.

Shortly after Alabama coach Nick Saban addressed the dismissal of defensive tackle Jonathan Taylor, running back Kenyan Drake met with the media. It was the first time Drake had spoken publicly since the injury that robbed him of the final nine games of his junior season. It should have been a chance to gladly tell of his ongoing comeback from a broken leg, but when Drake came into the media room on Monday, he was stoic, somber even.

It was especially painful because, as he said, he was friends with both Taylor and Geno Smith, who was arrested for his second DUI over the weekend.

"But at the end of the day you can't condone the behaviors they exhibited," he said. "We came together as a team and realized that at the end of the day you have to be leaders on and off the field and accountable for your actions."

Eventually the attention will turn back to the field, of course. Taylor is gone and Smith is working his way back into the good graces of the coaching staff. And on offense, Drake's return is a bright spot for the Crimson Tide.

In four full games last season, he accounted for 271 all-purpose yards. His six total touchdowns through Oct. 1 tied for secondĀ in the conference.

Being patient since his gruesome injury against Ole Miss has been the hardest part, though. Drake said that even now that he's not 100 percent, but he is happy with the way his leg has responded in practice. The first time he made a cut, he said he didn't even think about it.

"It seemed that once I put on those pads and helmet, I was back to normal," he explained. "Sometimes I'm reminded of it. As with anything you have to work through it."

A normal Kenyan Drake is an explosive weapon for offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin, who continues to experiment with the speedy senior at both running back and wide receiver, something Drake said he is fond of. With Amari Cooper off to the NFL, he could be one of a handful of players to provide his missing down-field threat.

Having both Drake and projected starting tailback Derrick Henry on the field at the same time could mean headaches for opposing defenses. Because where Drake is lightning in a bottle, Henry is all gas and no brakes, a 240-pound wrecking ball who finished 10 rushing yards shy of 1,000 last season.

"We look forward to whatever Coach Kiffin has up his sleeve," Drake said.

"Me in the backfield and him at receiver, you really wouldn't know what's coming or who's getting the ball," Henry told reporters earlier this spring. "Kenyan has great hands, and I try to do a little bit out of the backfield, too. But I just think that's great to have us both out there trying to make a play for the team."

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