Could Alabama’s most overlooked back finally get his shot against Texas A&M?
That question has hovered around AK Dear for a while now. In fall camp, he was a major part of the conversation in Alabama’s backfield, and then an ankle injury in the first scrimmage knocked him off track. Since then, he’s been healthy - but the touches still haven’t come.
Through 2026, Dear has just two carries for six yards. That’s a strange number for a sophomore who came into Tuscaloosa with real buzz, especially in a running back room that also includes Trae'shawn Brown, Daniel Hill and EJ Crowell.
The path to more work might finally be opening up this week.
Alabama managed only 54 rushing yards against Tennessee last Saturday, and Crowell went down with a knee injury in the process. With the Tide searching for production and a little life on offense, Week 8 could be the moment Kalen DeBoer and Ryan Grubb turn to Dear in a meaningful way.
That would be a notable shift from what has happened so far. Dear was a former five-star recruit and the second-ranked running back in the class of 2025.
As a freshman, he appeared in five games and finished with 19 carries for 140 yards and three touchdowns. His workload has actually dipped even further this season, even though Alabama clearly needs help.
There’s also the matter of what the other backs have done lately. Hill has been pedestrian over the last two games, with 11 carries for 49 yards in that stretch. Brown struggled against Tennessee too, finishing with 12 yards on six carries, although he has been consistently impressive for much of the year.
Put it all together, and the case is pretty simple: if Alabama wants a spark, Dear deserves a look. At minimum, DeBoer and Grubb should see whether he can give the Crimson Tide offense something it has lacked lately. Alabama has scored just 27 points combined over its last two games, and that’s the kind of drought that can force a coach to start digging deeper into the depth chart.
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Alabama Pass Rush Problem Could Follow The Tide Into Texas A&M
The pass rush has become one of the more uncomfortable storylines around Alabama after the Tide managed just one sack in each of their last two games, both losses. Defensive coordinator Kane Wommack has pointed to the same issue showing up again and again, with recent opponents getting the ball out quickly enough to blunt pressure before it can turn into a disruption.
Now the challenge appears to be waiting again with Texas A&M, which could bring a similar approach when it meets Alabama. If the Aggies are able to spread the ball around and keep the quarterback moving through reads fast, the Tide will need to find a way to create heat without relying on a rush that has not consistently gotten home lately. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Faces Growing Pressure To Stop This Slide Fast
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Texas A&M brings its own questions, but the Aggies have at least shown signs of improvement on defense, which only adds to the challenge Alabama is facing. Both teams need a response to steady their SEC standing, and for Alabama the pressure is about more than one result. It is about whether the slide gets stopped now, before it becomes something harder to shake. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Cant Let This Texas A&M Twist Derail Its Playoff Push
A familiar face or two will be back at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday, but Alabamas attention has to stay on the larger task in front of it. Texas A&M brings in two former Crimson Tide starters in offensive lineman Wilkin Formby and wide receiver Isaiah Horton, adding a little extra edge to a game that already matters plenty in the SEC race and the playoff conversation.
Inside Alabamas locker room, the focus sounded practical rather than sentimental. Tight end Marshall Pritchett and safety Ivan Taylor both acknowledged the presence of their former teammates, but the message was clear: the Tide have enough to handle without getting caught up in the reunion angle. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. CT Saturday on ABC, and Alabamas challenge is making sure the story of the afternoon is its own performance, not the visitors across the sideline. [Read more 🡒]