For the first three games of the season, Alabama running back Jam Miller has been stuck on the sidelines with a shoulder injury.
Now, with the Georgia Bulldogs on the horizon, Miller’s status is more important than ever as the Crimson Tide looks to knock out one of its rivals next Saturday.
When asked about Miller on Alabama’s “Hey Coach,” DeBoer still strayed away from giving a definitive yes or no answer, instead commenting on the running back’s strengths when he is able to take the field.
"Jam [Miller] just being a complete back, you're not worried about protection responsibilities," DeBoer said.
Will Jam Miller play against Georgia in Week 5?
More likely than not, this isn’t the most ideal response from the Tide’s head coach, as he easily could have said that Miller was looking for next Saturday, instead of skirting around the question.
The absence of Miller in the backfield has been felt over the last three weeks as the Crimson Tide has only run for 371 yards on the ground, 45 of which came from quarterback Ty Simpson. Currently, freshman Kevin Riley leads the Alabama running back room with just 120 yards on the year.
Alabama versus Georgia is always one of the biggest games of the year, especially when both teams are ranked within the Top 25 like they are right now. With the Crimson Tide at No. 14 in the country and the Bulldogs at No. 5, this could make or break either team holding onto their top-15 spot.
If Miller is available in a week and a half, it would be a huge positive for the Alabama offense, which struggled in their only loss of the season but has since bounced back in resounding fashion.
Before sustaining the shoulder injury, DeBoer had high praise for Miller, saying he had been “great” during fall camp and that he was a “big piece” of the offensive unit. However, it remains to be seen if the veteran running back will be available in Week 5.
Alabama and Georgia are scheduled to kick off at 6:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, Sept. 27, and the game will be broadcast on ABC.