Alabama’s ground game has gone from a problem spot to a real weapon in a hurry, and the biggest reason is the surge from two freshmen who are already making program history.
Through the first three weeks, the Crimson Tide is averaging 209 rushing yards per game after the win over Florida State. That’s a massive jump from last season’s 104 yards per game, and the turnaround hasn’t come from one place.
The offensive line has taken clear steps forward, and the tight end room has brought a physical edge as blockers. But the backs have done plenty of the heavy lifting, too.
Junior Daniel Hill has settled in as the RB1 and taken a noticeable leap from a year ago. Even so, the real jolt has come from EJ Crowell and Trae'shawn Brown. The freshmen are both averaging more than five yards per carry, and that stands in stark contrast to last season, when Alabama’s three leading backs - Hill, Jam Miller and Kevin Riley - all finished under four yards per carry.
Their start has been more than encouraging. It’s been historic. After both found the end zone against Florida State for the third straight game, Crowell and Brown became the first freshmen in Alabama history to each score a touchdown in the first three games of their careers.
Crowell’s role is growing fast. He was the first running back off the bench against Florida State behind Hill, and the former 5-star recruit has already shown enough burst to hint at a much bigger workload ahead. He should still be a senior in high school right now after reclassifying from the 2027 class, but he’s already making a real impact in Tuscaloosa.
Brown has been just as eye-catching, only with a different recruiting profile. The under-the-radar 3-star recruit made his presence felt as soon as he arrived, and he was Alabama’s leading rusher against the Seminoles with 86 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries.
That gives Kalen DeBoer a pretty good problem to sort out. AK Dear is expected back any week now after missing the first three games, and he was reportedly Alabama’s best back in fall camp.
Hill will keep his place because of what he brings on the tough-yard downs. Crowell is clearly being built up for a larger share.
Brown has already forced his way into the picture.
Alabama came into the season searching for a difference-maker at running back after going three seasons without one. Instead, the Crimson Tide may have found two freshmen who are changing the feel of the whole room. Add in Hill, and possibly Dear soon, and the position no longer looks like a question mark.
It looks like a strength.
In Other News...
Alabamas Slow Starts Are About To Get Seriously Punished
Alabama has survived its first three games, but the early warning signs have been hard to miss. The Crimson Tide have needed second-half rallies to steady themselves, and that habit is about to be tested by a schedule that leaves very little room for slow starts. What looked like manageable early-season turbulence now sits in the shadow of a run that brings ranked opponents and real pressure almost immediately.
South Carolina and Mississippi State loom as the next checkpoints, and both carry enough intrigue to make Alabamas opening stretches matter even more. LaNorris Sellers and Kamario Taylor are among the names to watch in those matchups, but the broader concern for the Tide is simpler: if the sluggish opening quarters continue, the margin for error disappears fast once Georgia, Tennessee, Texas A&M and LSU all come into view. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Heads To South Carolina With Problems It Can't Keep Ignoring
Alabamas win over Florida State in Week 3 gave the offense plenty to like, with quarterback Keelon Russell helping the Tide score on nine consecutive drives. But the celebration came with a sharp reminder of how much cleaner the overall product still needs to be, because the defense gave up nearly 500 yards and 36 points in a game that could have easily turned into a much bigger conversation about balance.
As Alabama turns to South Carolina, the same issues are sitting right in front of it: slow starts that leave little margin for error, explosive plays that flip momentum, and third-down situations that have too often put the defense on its heels. Kane Wommacks unit will have to show it can sustain a better level for four quarters, because the Tide can afford to admire the offenses rhythm only if the other side of the ball stops creating new problems. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Win Was Comfortable But UTSA Exposed One Lingering Concern
Texas left Alabama with little doubt in Week 3, but the broader non-conference slate still gave the Crimson Tide something to think about. Across the American Conference, teams went 2-7 outside league play, and UTSA was one of the better examples of a team that at least found a little footing on one side of the ball. East Carolina also grabbed a needed win over Old Dominion after a rocky start, while Florida Atlantic and North Texas had mixed showings in their own games.
For Alabama, the comfort of the final result did not erase the fact that UTSA managed to reveal a lingering concern. The Roadrunners were better defensively than they had been earlier in the season, but their offense never really got going in the loss to Texas, which is the kind of uneven performance that can still matter for the Tides long view of where this team stands. Alabama got the win it wanted, but games like this are useful reminders that the details underneath the score still deserve a close look. [Read more 🡒]