Every single week, 5-star freshman RB EJ Crowell does something special when he has the ball in his hands. He has produced a 29+ yard run in each of the last three games. That included a 37-yarder against Mississippi State, where he broke three tackles:
EJ CROWELL 😤 pic.twitter.com/3I8Dq0iLxK
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) October 3, 2026
In spite of that explosiveness, Crowell only got three carries against Mississippi State. He was Alabama's second-leading rusher anyway, producing 49 yards on those three attempts.
In the aftermath of the 33-point win over the Bulldogs, many Alabama fans questioned the usage of Crowell, who consistently looks like the most explosive running back on the roster and is a big play waiting to happen.
Alabama OC Ryan Grubb answered that question on Monday during his weekly press conference:
"He's still growing into the game plans," Grubb said. "There's parts that are difficult at times to have him on the field when he doesn't have the whole offense down. But he's getting there, and he's fighting his tail off to learn. ... He's wildly effective when the ball is in his hands."
Ryan Grubb says 5-star RB EJ Crowell is still learning the Alabama offense
None of that is surprising. You have to remember that Crowell entered the season having missed significant on-field reps with an injury in the spring and again during fall camp. Fellow freshman Trae'shawn Brown is ahead of him with knowledge of the offense because Brown didn't miss any reps in the offseason, and that shows.
They are also probably being overly cautious with Crowell after the minor injuries he's dealt with since arriving on campus. The season is a marathon, not a sprint. Alabama intends to play football into mid-January. They need Crowell healthy and at his best to be able to do that.
The most encouraging part is that Grubb went on to mention that Crowell has come a long way as a pass blocker in practice, which should lead to more opportunities for him. It's a big reason why Daniel Hill is still the starter, despite Brown and Crowell being more dynamic runners. His ability to pass block and protect Keelon Russell is pivotal for this offense.
Crowell's time is coming. It's coming soon. He's simply too talented not to get on the field. That's why they are still finding ways to get him involved in the offense, even though he doesn't have it all down pat just yet.
Against Mississippi State, it was important to break some tendencies. Crowell had gotten the ball on over 70% of his snaps heading into last weekend. That's what made the play-action bootleg with Russell so wide open in the 2nd quarter. Everyone in the stadium expected Crowell to get the football when he came into the game, and the Crimson Tide took advantage with Russell running untouched into the endzone for a touchdown.
Against a physical Georgia defensive front, Crowell will likely play a pivotal role this week with his contact balance and his ability to break tackles. It's only a matter of time before everything clicks for him.
And when it does, you won't have to worry about the number of touches he's getting because he'll have as many as he can stomach.
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