One of the biggest disappointments from spring practice and the A-Day scrimmage for Alabama fans was the inability to see much, if any, of 5-star RB EJ Crowell, one of the most productive running backs in Alabama high school history and the guy tasked with resurrecting a dormant running game in Tuscaloosa.
Crowell is expected to make a significant and immediate impact for the Crimson Tide in 2026, but his injury and missed reps in the spring represented a major setback for him to do that.
Speaking on Wednesday at the Region's Tradition Pro-Am in Birmingham, Kalen DeBoer provided a positive update on where things stand with Crowell heading into the summer.
“I think by the time we get to June, he will be in a good spot,” DeBoer said. “That’s everything I’m hearing and feeling. And that’s going to be really critical for him to get the summer in, not just from a workout standpoint, but they run the player-run practices. Just any reps for him are going to be good, quality ways for him to continue to improve in his development, especially early in his career.”
Kalen DeBoer expects EJ Crowell to be ready to go in June for Alabama
Crowell needs all the reps, both on and off the field, he can get this summer. While he wasn't able to get many physical reps during the spring, he undoubtedly took advantage of the mental reps and familiarizing himself with the playbook.
Alabama is coming off one of the worst seasons in program history in terms of running the football. The Tide ranked 132nd out of 136 FBS teams in rushing success rate, a fact that must change in 2026 for the offense to reach its ceiling.
Crowell remains a major part of the plan to flip the narrative on the ground. He's got the potential to be a day one starter for Alabama, and could have a similar impact to what Bo Jackson did for Ohio State a season ago in his first year in Columbus.
Obviously, it'll take a step forward by the offensive line to make that happen, but Crowell is easily the most talented running back to set foot in Tuscaloosa since Jahmyr Gibbs left for the NFL.
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