Kalen DeBoer and Alabama are in hot pursuit of a major upgrade to the RB room.
NC State transfer RB Hollywood Smothers will take a visit to Tuscaloosa this weekend, according to multiple reports. Initial reporting indicated that Smothers had two visits lined up: one to Alabama and another to Florida State.
Now, according to CBS Sports' Matt Zenitz, Smothers is no longer expected to visit Florida State, which is obviously really good news for the Crimson Tide's pursuit of the coveted running back:
An update: NC State running back transfer Hollywood Smothers is no longer expected to visit Florida State, @CBSSports has learned https://t.co/p6TiHq5Mt3 pic.twitter.com/88UAKuIj5w
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) January 3, 2026
Hollywood Smothers is only scheduled to visit Alabama at this point
With Alabama the only school on the schedule for Smothers, Alabama has a chance to reel in the transfer this weekend without allowing him to leave campus.
Smothers would be an instant upgrade for the Alabama RB room. A redshirt sophomore at NC State last season, he rushed for over 1500 yards and 12 touchdowns the last two seasons in Raleigh. That included 939 yards and six touchdowns last season on 5.9 yards-per-carry. Smothers led the ACC with 85.4 rushing yards per game.
One of Alabama's top priorities this offseason is finding a difference maker or two in the backfield. The Crimson Tide had one of the worst rushing offenses in college football this season, and that is what held them back from being a legitimate National Championship contender. Being too one-dimensional doomed Alabama against elite teams like Georgia and Indiana down the stretch.
Alabama believes it found a massive difference-maker in the 2026 high school recruiting class. 5-star RB EJ Crowell has all the makings of a superstar at the position. But it would be foolish to put all your eggs in the basket of a true freshman who may take time to develop and learn the scheme, particularly as a pass blocker.
Smothers will be ready to go from day one, and is a talent upgrade over everyone currently slated to return.
Alabama will lose both Jam Miller and Louisiana transfer Dre Washington, as both exhausted their collegiate eligibility. On Friday, redshirt sophomore running back Richard Young opted to enter the Transfer Portal, which had long been expected.
Redshirt freshmen Daniel Hill and Kevin Riley, along with true freshman AK Dear, are currently slated to return next season. They'll be joined by incoming freshmen Crowell and Trae'shawn Brown. The addition of Smothers would get the room back to six as it had for the 2025 season, though it wouldn't be a surprise to see one of the holdovers decide to test the portal waters if Alabama brings in a projected starter to the backfield.
You can follow along with all of Alabama's Transfer Portal happenings by following this link.