EJ Crowell has created a buzz ever since he arrived in Tuscaloosa. His combination of strength and speed stands out. Most freshmen running backs need time to develop, but Crowell has shown signs he can compete early. Not only is Crowell frequently praised by his Alabama teammates, but Alabama fans are confident that Crowell will become a superstar.
Not every Alabama football player should jump on the Crowell bandwagon. For good reason, his position-group teammates must focus on their own improvement and the competition for meaningful game action. They will respect Crowell's progress while fighting hard to outperform him.
The Alabama running back group is deep, with the expected RB1 being Daniel Hill. Others competing with Crowell for key roles are junior Kevin Riley, sophomore AK Dear, and freshman Trae'shawn Brown. The depth could allow frequent rotation.
Kevin Riley has been mentioned during the offseason for showing improvement and should not be discounted. AK Dear probably leads as RB2. Anyone viewing Trae'shawn Brown as an afterthought roster addition does not understand the freshman's potential.
After Monday's practice, Ryan Grubb said that Brown, Dear, and Daniel Hill stood out. Grubb was close to gushing about the position group's progress. The Crimson Tide OC cited Dear's maturity as the reason for his promising performance in Fall Camp. Talking about Dear, Grubb said, " ... what he thinks is possible now are very different (from last season). So I think he's a great teammate. ... But also, you know, just being a better football player. Like AK, understanding protections was one of the issues of getting on the field, and he's come a long way."
Before a running back will get ample opportunity to flash, he must prove to be consistent in blocking duties. There was never a doubt that Dear had the potential to sizzle. His maturity and progress to a complete running back warrant Grubb's excitement.
Brown and Dear cannot afford to look behind them. Crowell has the potential to be special. Ryan Grubb said, "EJ is young, super explosive ... he runs physical, he runs bigger than he is, he's got speed on the long end." Grubb added, "He's just got to learn the game. He's got to learn how to practice full speed all the time. He's a great kid, he wants to do it, he loves being here, he's an Alabama guy. But he's physical, he's tough, he's got great hands, the sky's the limit for him. But he's got to learn the game."
Alabama is in great shape at running back. If the Tide's offensive line creates more push and more holes than last season, Alabama's running game can thrive.
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