AK Dear came into Alabama’s season with a path that looked pretty straightforward. The sophomore running back had been pegged as the likely feature back going into fall camp, and even after an injury in the Crimson Tide’s first scrimmage in August, it still seemed like he would be a meaningful part of the rotation once he got back on the field.
That hasn’t played out. Dear has only gotten two carries in the five games he’s been active, and he hasn’t touched the ball at all over the last three weeks.
The latest sign came in Alabama’s 31-20 win over Texas A&M last Saturday. Freshman running back EJ Crowell was unavailable, the offense managed just 2.4 yards per carry, and still Dear never saw the field. At this point, that only reinforces the idea that the Quitman, Miss., native is not headed for a major role this season.
Kalen DeBoer addressed Dear’s status Monday at the Monday Morning Quarterback Club in Birmingham, Ala., and said the sophomore is making progress.
"He's doing better now. Just gaining those reps in practice," DeBoer said. "He and Kevin (Riley) are getting more of those reps these last couple weeks with EJ out."
Early in the year, the picture looked very different. Crowell and freshman teammate Trae'Shawn Brown both jumped out fast, scoring in each of Alabama’s first three games. For a while, it looked like Dear might simply get squeezed out by two freshmen who were producing in a rushing attack that was humming along.
But the ground game has cooled, Crowell has been hurt, and Dear still hasn’t broken through. Even Riley, who entered the season as the team’s expected No. 5 back, got a carry in Saturday’s win.
"AK's right there," DeBoer said. "We just need to get him more plays, more snaps to get him into the game plan on a Saturday."
With DeBoer and offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb running out of Saturdays, Dear’s window is getting smaller. If he doesn’t get on the field next weekend in Baton Rouge after the bye week, it would be fair to think his chance at any real role this season is basically gone.
In Other News...
Alabama's Late Surge Revealed Something Bigger About This Offense
For most of the afternoon against Texas A&M, Alabama looked like a team searching for answers as much as one trying to impose its will. The Aggies stayed close long enough to make the game feel unsettled, even as the underlying numbers pointed toward an Alabama edge in efficiency and big-play potential. What stood out most was not just the final margin, but the way the Tide's offense kept working through a running game that never fully settled in until later.
Then came the fourth quarter, when Alabama's offense finally found a different gear and turned a competitive game into a more comfortable finish. The swing raised plenty of questions about what changed, from adjustments up front to how the staff may have tweaked the plan after some early struggles on the ground. However it happened, the late surge suggested something bigger than a single-game rally, because it hinted at an offense still discovering how dangerous it can be once the pieces start clicking. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama May Have Spotted An In-State Lineman Before Everyone Else
Alabama has already dipped into its 2027 offensive line board with a familiar kind of target for the Crimson Tide: an in-state prospect who may be more projection than polish right now. Xavier Endicott, a 6-foot-4, 280-pound lineman from Oxford, has committed to Alabama shortly after the program extended him a scholarship, and the early return suggests the staff saw enough size and athletic ability to move quickly.
Endicott is still unranked on the major recruiting sites, which only adds to the intrigue around how fast his recruitment came together. He also becomes part of a small but notable in-state foundation in the class, joining Stafford Willis as Alabama looks to stockpile offensive line talent early and identify potential before the rest of the country catches on. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Heads Into LSU Still Sorting Out Two Key Availability Concerns
Alabama kept rolling with a 31-20 win over Texas A&M even while dealing with several starters who were unavailable because of injuries and a suspension. The Crimson Tide have shown enough depth to keep winning through the absences, but the latest availability questions are still hanging over a stretch of the season that is only getting tougher from here.
Ahead of the LSU matchup, Kalen DeBoer gave updates on injured players Ryan Coleman-Williams and William Sanders, two names Alabama is still monitoring closely as it tries to get closer to full strength. The situation comes with the added backdrop of defensive back Dre Kirkpatrick Jr. being suspended indefinitely for a team rules violation after legal charges, a complication that has left Alabama sorting through both discipline and health issues at the same time. [Read more 🡒]