After many months of questions, doubts and speculation, Alabama Football running back, Camar Wheaton will not play for the Crimson Tide. Per Chris Hummer of 247Sports, Wheaton is “away from the team” and is not expected to return. He is not in the Transfer Portal yet, but it is being rumored Wheaton may settle closer to home at SMU.
Wheaton was a 5-Star recruit and missing out on an elite player is always disappointing. Beyond that, there is no reason for concern and Wheaton’s departure should mean the rest of the Crimson Tide’s deep, running back group will stick for the 2022 season.
In fact, there are two potential silver linings that could result. One is an expanded playing opportunity for Roydell Williams, once he fully recovers from his injury. Williams rushed for a 5.9 yard average in the 2021 season before being hurt in the New Mexico State game. He will miss spring and fall camps but could return to the field sometime next fall.
Another Crimson Tide running back, who will probably not be recovered from an injury by the start of next season, is Jase McClellan. McClellan was hurt in the Ole Miss game. Alabama football insiders believe McClellan’s knee injury was more severe than the one incurred by Roydell Williams. Both are expected to fully recover, but McClellan may not be cleared to practice until September or October.
Given the injuries and the expected exit by Camar Wheaton, the Crimson Tide will go into spring practice with three scholarship running backs. Incoming freshman Jamarion Miller will take part in spring work, but fellow freshman running back, Emmanuel Henderson is a summer enrollee.
Alabama Football Spring Running Backs
Recent Georgia Tech transfer, Jahmyr Gibbs is likely to be RB1 this spring, followed by Trey Sanders and Jamarion Miller. The other possible silver lining from the reduced running back group comes from incoming freshman, Kendrick Law. Law was recruited as an ‘athlete.’ In fact, he was an elite ‘athlete’ in the 2022 class. He could play wide receiver for the Crimson Tide or multiple positions in the Tide’s secondary. Some Alabama football insiders are convinced the best position for Law is running back. The dynamic Law could become a game-changing Crimson Tide running back.
Law has speed and as important for a young running back, his body is college-football ready. Time for physical maturation will not be an issue for Law. Crimson Tide fans are excited to see him as a running back this spring.
It is rightly said a running back group can never be too deep. That was the case for the Tide in 2021. Depth should not be an issue for 2022.