MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Former West Virginia running back Andrew Buie remains on a graduate transfer journey and visited Alabama recently.
The typically loaded Crimson Tide might seem an odd fit for a one-year player like Buie, who ranged from third- to fourth-string at WVU last season. But Alabama’s backfield cupboard has thinned with T.J. Yeldon’s early entry in the NFL draft, five-star freshman Bo Scarbrough’s torn ACL this spring, Tyren Jones’ dismissal, Altee Tenpenny’s transfer to UNLV and four-star spring enrollee DeSherrius Flowers being declared ineligible.
Alabama still has Derrick Henry, Kenyan Drake and five-star freshman Damien Harris in the fold—a hearty trio to be sure—but only walk-ons behind them. That depth shortage, along with Lane Kiffin’s introduction of some spread-game elements, piqued the Tide’s interest in Buie.
Buie was West Virginia’s top rusher during 2012 with 851 yards, seven touchdowns and a 4.8-yards per carry average. He also made 28 of his 48 career receptions that season before leaving school during the fall of 2013 and returning last season for marginal action (232 yards and two touchdowns on 55 carries). He played a key role, however, in the 41-27 upset of then-No. 4 Baylor with a rushing touchdown and four catches for 63 yards.
Mountaineers coach Dana Holgorsen announced in March that Buie was no longer a part of the team.