Alabama has to get more production out of its running back room in 2025. That has been a focal point for first-year offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb as he looks to bring more consistency to the Crimson Tide's offense in 2025.
Last year's ground game was Jalen Milroe or bust. Alabama got some solid play from its backfield, but it has felt like the team has lacked a true difference-maker at the position since Jahmyr Gibbs left for the NFL.
There's plenty of talent in the backfield, but that talent has to produce. Senior Jam Miller is at the front of the pack and will be the team's starter. But Grubb has the unenviable task of trimming down the rotation from six quality backs to three players to earn meaningful carries.
With Miller entrenched as the starter, that leaves five guys competing for two spots. Grubb mentioned after practice that some backs could have specific roles that work better against certain teams, so there's not necessarily just going to be three backs getting carries. It's just likely to be three week over week.
“Whatever we need for the game plan,” Grubb said when asked about the number of backs he expects to get carries. “Sometimes there’s some specialty stuff that you need a little bit more of one type of back. And I think that we’re lucky that we have a lot of different types of backs. So I think that you normally are going into almost any game, you’re thinking there’s at least three guys that are gonna get considerable reps.”
Which Alabama running backs will separate to earn roles behind Jam Miller?
The competition for the No. 2 and No. 3 spots on the depth chart seems to be between three true contenders: junior Richard Young, senior transfer Dre Washington, and sophomore Daniel Hill.
Young was the most coveted of the three as a prospect. He was a 5-star recruit out of high school, but has yet to see much of a gameday opportunity through his first two seasons in Tuscaloosa. He had an impressive 62-yard run in Alabama's blowout win over Missouri last year that flashed his potential.
Washington came over from Louisiana, and he's entering his final year of eligibility with hopes of carving out a significant role. He is a big-play threat and a proven weapon out of the backfield.
Hill has seen considerable hype from spring practice, summer workouts, and into fall camp. He's a big, brusing type, but Grubb made sure to mention that he has good hands, too.
While those seem to be the main competitors, don't forget about 4-star freshman AK Dear, who was the No. 2 high school RB in the country a year ago. Dear has consistently worked at the end of the line, but he's making considerable progress, something Grubb was quick to point out to reporters today:
“AK Dear is a guy that was really swimming this spring and has shown some promise here lately,” Grubb said. “Normally, I don’t talk about those younger guys too much, but just been proud of his progress the last couple days."
Alabama should have the offensive line to be able to effectively run the football. It's vital, as Alabama breaks in a new starter at QB, that an inexperienced signal-caller has an effective ground game to turn to.
Saturday brings the first scrimmage of fall camp, which should give the first real indication of the pecking order at multiple positions.