Alabama's running game has not gotten it done this season. Through nine games, the Crimson Tide ranks 128th - out of 136 FBS teams - in rushing success rate, per Game on Paper.
Something has got to give. If Alabama wants to have a legitimate shot at winning the National Championship, it has to run the football more effectively. The run game doesn't have to resemble the Derrick Henry days, but even an upgrade to below average from abysmal could open up the offense even more.
The struggles running the ball aren't any one thing. The offensive line certainly hasn't been good enough in opening up holes, but the running backs also haven't been good enough at identifying and pressing the holes when they are there. The backs are leaving money on the table every week, which has compounded the issue.
Senior Jam Miller was guilty of that several times last week. Whether it's a lack of faith in the blocking scheme or something else, Miller danced around at the line of scrimmage too much instead of hitting the hole and getting the yards that were there to be gained.
It's why we talked earlier in the week about increasing the workload of redshirt freshman Daniel Hill, who does little dancing and just slams forward. A two or three-yard gain is preferable over negative plays.
But perhaps there's another player who has been sitting on the bench all year who could provide a spark to the running game.
True freshman AK Dear, the No. 2 RB in the 2025 recruiting class, may hold the keys to a late-season improvement on the ground.
Could AK Dear carve out a role for Alabama football down the stretch?
One thing that has become obvious with Kalen DeBoer and the offensive coaching staff is that they are apprehensive about putting a running back out there who is a liability in pass blocking. The offense is predicated on attacking defenses vertically, and the backs play a key role in the protection schemes.
Dear is a talented player, perhaps the most talented runner on the roster, but unless he's improved dramatically in practice as a blocker, it's hard to see him having a big role down the stretch.
Dear still holds the longest run from scrimmage for a Tide running back this season. He broke free for a 56-yard touchdown run in garbage time against UL Monroe in Week 2. He hasn't gotten on the field since the Wisconsin game in Week 3.
But Dear created a bit of a stir with a social media post earlier this week.
update .. pic.twitter.com/wmKKyTAFoL
— ᴀᴋʏʟɪɴ(AK)ᴅᴇᴀʀ⭐️ (@akylin3) November 11, 2025
DeBoer talked about Dear on Wednesday:
"AK does a nice job every single day," DeBoer said. "I feel like the growth is there. We saw enough of him early to know he’s an explosive player. He’s gonna be a guy I know in our future, sooner and later, that continues to help our football team. And so, I think he’s getting more and more comfortable with being here, and I think we have a group of guys that are all working themselves and trying to get ready to go, if called upon.”
Dear's opportunity could come sooner than some might think. Perhaps he gets a look this weekend against Oklahoma. If not, the following week against Eastern Illinois should provide an opportunity for Dear to audition for a larger role in the offense moving forward.