After two empty possessions to start the game, the Alabama offense fired on all cylinders against Florida State on Saturday. Keelon Russell looked comfortable and confident, leading the Crimson Tide on nine consecutive scoring drives. The only drive the remainder of the game that didn't produce points for Alabama was the last one, where Russell took a knee to end the game.
Russell grew up before our eyes, and Alabama struck the offensive balance that has been missing in Tuscaloosa the last couple of years. While Russell carved up the FSU secondary, the Crimson Tide's running game produced 220 second-half rushing yards, including 140 in the fourth quarter alone, to drive the last nails into the Seminoles' coffin.
Alabama's offense looked explosive and efficient. Now, the Crimson Tide is set to welcome back two potentially pivotal playmakers who were expected to play major roles on the offense before suffering injuries.
According to Kalen DeBoer, sophomore RB AK Dear and NC State transfer WR Noah Rogers will be available this weekend against South Carolina:
AK Dear and Noah Rogers "will be available" Kalen DeBoer said
— Nick Kelly (@_NickKelly) September 21, 2026
Kalen DeBoer announces AK Dear and Noah Rogers will be available for Alabama vs. South Carolina
Dear and Rogers both dressed out and went through warm-ups in each of the first three games. Dear has been questionable going into games the last two weekends. Now both are set to make their 2026 debuts against the Gamecocks.
Dear was trending to be RB1 or RB2 for Alabama during fall camp before he suffered a high-ankle sprain in the first scrimmage. Dear was having a tremendous camp before the injury. His return will give DeBoer and Ryan Grubb a good problem to solve in the backfield.
Alabama's trio of Daniel Hill, EJ Crowell, and Trae'shawn Brown has been fantastic through three games. Alabama has doubled its rushing output per game so far this season, up to 209 yards a night from 104 last season. It's going to be immensely challenging to get meaningful carries to four running backs, so it'll be fascinating to see how Dear slots in.
As for Rogers, adding another veteran to the WR room will be a nice boost. The NC State transfer was set to be a starter for the Crimson Tide alongside Ryan Coleman-Williams and Lotzeir Brooks before he suffered a major injury during the spring. He beat his initial timeline and is ready to get back on the field.
In his absence, junior Rico Scott has been a reliable option as a pass catcher and a tremendous blocker. It won't be easy to take him off the field. Sophomore Derek Meadows has disappeared after a strong start, and freshman Cederian Morgan turned his first career catch into the touchdown that sparked the Crimson Tide's comeback against Florida State.
Rogers adds some valuable depth to the WR room and has the potential to be a real difference-maker for Alabama.
Though both will be available this weekend, I would expect Alabama to continue to take a cautious approach with both players, easing them into the action and slowly ramping up their workloads in the coming weeks.
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