Alabama's RB room is pretty banged up heading into this weekend's SEC Championship Game.
Alabama is already without redshirt freshman Kevin Riley, who, according to the Iron Bowl broadcast, is out with a broken jaw. In the fourth quarter of the Crimson Tide's 27-20 win over Auburn, senior RB Jam Miller left the game with a lower-body injury. He was seen on crutches after the game, casting doubt about his ability to play against Georgia.
Kalen DeBoer didn't have an update on Miller during Sunday night's SEC Championship Game teleconference. An update is expected on Monday, but the Crimson Tide seems likely to go into Saturday's game without two of its top three running backs.
That would put redshirt freshman Daniel Hill in line to start. Hill has really come along as the season has progressed and really became Alabama's most reliable running back until Miller put together one of his better performances of the season against Auburn.
But Hill won't be able to do it alone. He can't play all the snaps, which means the Crimson Tide will be looking at a couple of other running backs to step up against Georgia if Miller is unable to go.
Kalen DeBoer mentions AK Dear and Dre Washington as RBs who could step up
On Sunday night's teleconference, Kalen DeBoer specifically mentioned true freshman AK Dear and senior Louisiana transfer Dre Washington as running backs who could step up this weekend.
"They’ll all have to do their part," DeBoer said. "We gave AK Dear a few more reps on top of what Daniel Hill has done. Dre Washington is ready. He continues to take reps in practice. We just got to keep plugging away with guys that are excited about their opportunity."
Dear got one snap during the Iron Bowl after the injury to Miller. He caught a screen pass in that snap that went for six yards. He might have the most raw talent of any RB on the roster, but you'll have to live with the normal freshman mistakes if you are going to play him.
Washington, a senior, is probably more equipped to handle the ins and outs of the position, but doesn't have the explosiveness that Dear can bring to the table. Washington has been a core special teams player for Alabama this season, but has had limited meaningful carries this year.
The most interesting part of what DeBoer said is that he didn't mention redshirt sophomore Richard Young. Young was Alabama's starting RB in the opener against Florida State with Miller out due to a dislocated collarbone.
But after seeing action in the first three games of the season, Young received his first carry in two months against Eastern Illinois last Saturday. He was the last scholarship RB off the bench. DeBoer's comment about guys who are "excited about their opportunity" is pretty telling as to why.