When Kalen DeBoer stepped in for Nick Saban in January of 2024, it was assumed by many that he was left with overflowing cupboards of talent. Instead, the last two seasons of Alabama football have exposed a disturbing reality: Saban had lost his roster-building fastball.
The last few recruiting classes Saban brought in were littered with busts, particularly at the line of scrimmage and at the skill positions.
That includes running back.
A perfect example of that was on display Thursday night during the Colorado-Georgia Tech matchup. The game included both of Alabama's prized RB haul in the 2023 recruiting class: Justice Haynes and Richard Young.
Haynes and Young were both ranked as Top 5 backs in that cycle and represented the future of the position in Tuscaloosa. Both ultimately transferred without making much of an impact. The duo combined to rush for 840 yards across five seasons at the Capstone. Haynes left after the 2024 season, and Young followed suit after last year.
Both still show the same flaws that held them back at Alabama.
Justice Haynes and Richard Young still have major flaws
Haynes found quick success at Michigan, rushing for 857 yards and 10 touchdowns before suffering a season-ending injury. But his success with the Wolverines was more fool's gold than it appeared on paper.
Of his 857 rushing yards, 308 of them came on just five carries. That was 36% of his production reduced to just five of his 121 rushing attempts. The explosive plays were nice, but they were also indicative of Haynes' flaws.
When there's a big hole there, he'll find it and explode through it. Michigan was capable of opening those up. But when there's not much there, he's not going to shed much contact or make guys miss in space. It was the same way at Alabama. And it was the same in his debut at Georgia Tech on Thursday night.
Georgia Tech's offensive line failed to give him much running room, and he managed just 64 yards on 19 carries.
It was worse for Young.
Young left Alabama for an increased role after getting buried on the depth chart again last season. You might have forgotten, but he started Alabama's season opener against Florida State last year with Jam Miller injured. He only got 14 carries the rest of the season after the opener, and then hopped into the portal.
He landed at Colorado and was immediately expected to be the Buffs' starter. When their official depth chart was released ahead of kickoff against Georgia Tech, Young was listed as fifth-string. That held true through the game, too. He was the fifth Colorado RB to get playing time against the Jackets, making his debut late in the third quarter. He turned three carries into a meager 10 yards.
This is not meant to pile on Haynes and Young. I have a lot of respect for any players who have worn the Script A and worked hard to garner opportunities. But the reality is that neither has lived up to their immense recruiting potential.
Alabama adding both players ultimately served as a setback to the RB room. High school RB recruiting was not great over the last few classes Saban signed. The last truly impactful running back in Tuscaloosa was Georgia Tech transfer Jahmyr Gibbs.
DeBoer may have solved that issue in the last two cycles. AK Dear was having a tremendous fall camp before suffering a high-ankle sprain in the first scrimmage. He looks ready to take a sophomore leap once he's able to get back on the field.
In the 2026 cycle, DeBoer may have double-dipped on stars. 5-star EJ Crowell may be the most talented high school recruit at RB for the Crimson Tide since Najee Harris. That's not surprising considering his pedigree.
But 3-star Trae'Shawn Brown looks like a real diamond in the rough. He's had an eye-opening offseason, and he's set up for a legitimate freshman role in the backfield.
Dear, Crowell, and Brown have a chance to completely change the narrative for Alabama's running game. Along with flipping the offensive line room over the offseason, DeBoer has taken the necessary steps to fix a weak point that Saban left him saddled with.
Saturday against East Carolina will be the first opportunity to take a big step forward.
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