25 Days Away from Bama Kickoff: Derrick Lassic
Each day counting down to Alabama's Week 1 matchup with Utah State, I will highlight a former player whose jersey number coincides with the amount of days until the game. In honor of 25 days until kickoff, let's take a look at the career of former Bama running back Derrick Lassic.
Derrick Lassic suited up at tailback for the Tide from 1988-92. He was a highly touted recruit from Haverstraw, NY, and became a key piece of the Crimson Tide offense in his time in Tuscaloosa.
While he was mostly unknown for the majority of his career at North Rockland High School, Lassic's record setting senior season put the running back on notice. He rushed for 1,719 yards and 26 touchdowns to go along with 31 receptions for 586 yards and five scores.
Lassic earned a scholarship from Bill Curry to join the Alabama Crimson Tide and enrolled in the fall of 1988. He redshirted in his first season, but saw time in 10 games in 1989, finishing with 142 yards on 33 carries.
As a sophomore, Lassic continued to split time in a loaded backfield and was hampered by a toe injury, finishing the year with 281 yards on 68 carries.
He bounced back as a junior, serving as the backup to Siran Stacy and finishing third on the team in rushing with just under 400 yards. Lassic finally took over as full-time starter in 1992 and finished fifth in the SEC in rushing with 905 yards and added 14 receptions for 129 yards. He was named the MVP of Alabama's Sugar Bowl Matchup with Miami which the Tide won in dominant fashion.
After his five-year career, Lassic entered the 1993 NFL draft and was selected in the fourth round by the Dallas Cowboys where he spent just two seasons, but was a member of the Super Bowl XXLIII winning team.
After suffering a torn ligament in his knee and missing the 1994 season, Lassic was scooped up by the Carolina Panthers in the 1995 NFL Expansion Draft, but never saw the field with the team, instead being waived with an injury settlement. He signed with the 49ers briefly the next season, but was again waived before training camp.
Though his career was cut short by injuries at the professional level, Lassic gave Tide fans a lifetime of memories from his incredible final season at the Capstone.
Salute this Crimson Tide legend and stay locked in to Tide1009.com for the countdown to Alabama football. Check out the rest of the list here.