EJ Crowell arrived at Alabama with significant expectations as a 5-star recruit and one of the most prolific running backs in the history of high school football in the state. That he comes in a season after the Crimson Tide had one of its worst rushing outputs in program history only serves to ramp up the expectations.
Even as a freshman, Crowell is expected by fans to be an immediate difference-maker. That's a lot of pressure on a young player, particularly one who reclassified and should be gearing up for his senior season of high school, not having the burden of being the guy who restores Alabama's RB room to its past glory.
His talent is undeniable. He's capable of getting on the field right away and being an instant contributor. But there's more to playing running back at this level than just running the football. You have to block, you have to recognize your assignments, you have to know keys, tendencies, etc. It's not always seamless. Some guys are ready to play quickly, and some aren't.
It's assumed that Crowell will be ready to go right away. But offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb spoke about Crowell after practice on Thursday and revealed what will stand in the way of the freshman playing a significant role, and it was a good reminder of the patience fans may need to have when it comes to the elite youngster.
Ryan Grubb says Alabama freshman RB EJ Crowell has to 'learn the game'
“EJ’s young. Super explosive, runs out over his toes, has good balance," Grubb said. "He’s thick with the ball; he runs physical, he runs bigger than he is. He’s got speed in the long end. 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. He’s physical, he’s tough, he’s got great hands. Sky’s the limit for him, but he’s gotta learn the game, he’s got to know how to practice, and he’s got a good shot.”
Crowell has everything you want in a running back. He's the perfect size. He's got elite bend and contract balance, and he's incredibly explosive. He can be the home run hitter Alabama has been missing at the position.
There's a reason he was rated as high as he was, even after reclassifying. There's a reason there's so much excitement both inside and outside the four walls of the facility about him. He's the real deal.
But he's also incredibly young and will take some time to learn the vast nuances of playing the position at a high level. One of the best historic examples of that for Alabama fans is Derrick Henry, one of the greatest running backs to ever play football.
Henry only got 35 carries as a freshman on Alabama's 2013 team. That wasn't because of talent. When he did touch the field, his talent was obvious. But he had to learn how to play the game. It's a funny story Nick Saban has told countless times about Henry not having a clue how to pass block because in high school they just turned around and gave him the football.
That's not dissimilar from Crowell's high school experience. He ran for 2600 yards last season and averaged 12.6 yards per carry. His coach would've been foolish to do anything but hand him the football every chance he got.
How quickly Crowell can pick up the idiosyncracies of the position will determine how big a role he will have as a freshman. It could take some time - it might not - but a little bit of patience could pay off in a big way down the road.
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