With Jam Miller still on the mend, this surprising Alabama RB deserves a closer look

Alabama's running game found little traction on Saturday against Florida State, but part of that issue was OC Ryan Grubb completely abandoning it for large stretches.

The Tide's opening drive script leaned heavily on the ground, with 12 of the 16 plays being runs. So it was a significant surprise to see that Alabama only ran the ball 17 times the remainder of the game, with several of those being designed pass plays that Ty Simpson scrambled on.

Alabama managed 55 rushing yards on the opening drive. They managed just 32 yards the remainder of the game, finishing with a paltry 3.0 yards-per-carry on average.

Alabama's inability to effectively run the football has become all too constant a theme over the last couple of seasons. The offensive line hasn't been good enough, and Alabama has struggled to find a true difference maker in the backfield since Jahmyr Gibbs entered the NFL Draft.

Against Florida State, four running backs got playing time. Three who were expected: Richard Young, Daniel Hill, and Dre Washington, and then the surprising inclusion of redshirt freshman Kevin Riley. Despite not being listed on the pregame depth chart, Riley was actually the third back to get in the game, ahead of Washington.

Riley finished the game as Alabama's leading rusher with 31 yards and was No. 2 in terms of carries in the backfield with five, behind only Young's nine.

Riley was the only running back who produced a run of longer than seven yards. Riley displayed some wiggle and ran the ball hard when he had the opportunity. With Jam Miller out this week and likely next, it's a perfect time to get a closer look at the redshirt freshman.

Kevin Riley should receive a bigger workload the next two weeks

Grubb and Kalen DeBoer may want to shorten the RB rotation a bit. It's difficult for backs to get into any kind of rhythm if they aren't getting touches. That's especially true for an offense that presents itself as pass-heavy.

Before garbage time, it might make sense to trim the rotation to two running backs. After one game, I believe one of those backs - no matter how short the rotation is - should be Riley.

Riley made significant strides during fall camp after being seen as an afterthought in the RB room. He did not seem to be in competition for carries heading into the season, but that clearly changed as he got the football on Alabama's opening drive of the game.

It's clear that he is highly thought of. It's also clear, at least through one game, that he deserves a closer examination over the next couple of weeks while Miller continues to recover.