Alabama's RB room in good shape even after Justice Haynes entering Transfer Portal

Alabama sophomore RB Justice Haynes entered the Transfer Portal on Friday. Haynes, Alabama's No. 2 running back in 2024, didn't have the second-year breakout he was hoping for in Tuscaloosa, and with an even more crowded RB room expected in 2025, Haynes smartly will look for a place he can be a featured player.

Haynes ran for 448 yards on 79 attempts on the season with seven rushing touchdowns. He led the team with a 5.7 yards-per-carry average. As the season wore on, it became clear that Haynes was losing more and more carries to Jam Miller, and there weren't many to go around to begin with thanks to the reliance on the QB run game with Jalen Milroe.

Many will look at this transfer as disappointing. Haynes was a major recruiting win in the 2023 class. The 5-star out of Buford, Georgia chose the Tide over the in-state Bulldogs. The promise he came to Tuscaloosa with and flashed as a freshman never materialized in an uneven sophomore season.

Haynes will likely find success in a system better suited to his skills, but Alabama will be just fine without him, too. The Crimson Tide will still have one of the most talented RB rooms in the country even after his transfer.

The current expectation is that Jam Miller will return for his senior season. Sophomore Richard Young was ranked higher than Haynes according to some recruiting services and flashed his potential when given an opportunity in 2024. If he's Alabama's No. 2 running back next season, the Tide will be in good shape.

Alabama signed two four-star running backs last year - Kevin Riley and Daniel Hill - and both should be ready for roles next season after a year in the system. The Crimson Tide also signed the nation's No. 2 RB in the 2025 cycle, AK Dear out of Mississippi.

Dear will come to Tuscaloosa and push for playing time immediately as a freshman.

Alabama has plenty of question marks heading into next season. Who will be the quarterback? How will Alabama replace the outside blocking of WR Kendrick Law and TE Robbie Ouzts? Can Alabama improve on the defensive line and get more of a pass rush off the edge without having to blitz?

There are plenty of questions that will have to be answered. Even with Haynes transferring, none of the questions involve the running backs.