Alabama’s Week 2 trip to Kentucky didn’t just give the Tide a win. It gave a much sharper read on the running back pecking order.
After the opener left some room for debate, Daniel Hill looked every bit like the clear lead back in SEC play. He was on the field for 42 of Alabama’s 59 snaps before the backups came in late in the fourth quarter, and he turned 18 carries into 104 yards.
Trae'shawn Brown was next in line with 14 snaps, while freshman EJ Crowell logged only three. Kevin Riley worked almost entirely in a second-team role and finished with four snaps at the end of the game.
AK Dear was still unavailable because of a leg injury, and while his return could eventually affect the rotation, he does not appear to be pushing Hill for the top spot.
Hill’s outing also fit into a broader pattern for Alabama’s backfield. It was the Tide’s fourth 100-yard rushing game by a running back since Kalen DeBoer became coach in 2024, and the first since Jam Miller ran for 136 yards against Vanderbilt last October. Miller also reached that mark against USF in 2024, and Justice Haynes did it against Western Kentucky in 2024.
The production came in waves. Alabama managed only five rushing yards in the first half on 16 carries, then piled up 150 on the ground after halftime.
Two games into the season, the overall numbers are still uneven. Alabama ranks 53rd nationally with 382 rushing yards, and the running backs alone are 71st with 271.
The Tide is averaging 4.3 yards per carry overall, which ranks 81st, and 4.7 per carry from its backs, good for 87th. Strip out goal-to-go runs, though, and the backs are up to 5.0 yards per carry.
There are some encouraging signs in the situational numbers. Alabama running backs are tied for 14th nationally by converting 75% of their third-down runs for first downs. On the flip side, they rank 94th in generating first downs on 22.4% of their carries.
The negative plays are still a problem, too. Alabama’s backs have six runs for a loss so far, including three at Kentucky, a total that puts the Tide among the top 31 teams in the country in that category.
Here are Alabama's full offensive and defensive snap counts from its Week 2 win at Kentucky as provided to CBS Sports:
QUARTERBACK: Keelon Russell (59), Austin Mack (4) (did not play: Jett Thomalla) (not in uniform: Tayden-Evan Kaawa, John Gazzaniga)
RUNNING BACK: Daniel Hill (42), Trae'shawn Brown (14), EJ Crowell (3), Kevin Riley (4) (did not play: Khalifa Keith) (not in uniform: AK Dear)
WIDE RECEIVER: Rico Scott (52), Ryan Coleman-Williams (50), Lotzeir Brooks (42), Derek Meadows (12), Cederian Morgan (4) (did not play: Tyler Henderson, MJ Chirgwin) (not in uniform: Noah Rogers, Maurice Mathis, Amari Sabb, Aubrey Walker)
TIGHT END: Kaleb Edwards (39), Josh Ford (23), Danny Lewis (13), Marshall Pritchett (11), Jay Lindsey (6) (did not play: Mack Sutter, Jack Sammarco)
OFFENSIVE TACKLE: Jackson Lloyd (60), Jayvin James (60), Tyrell Miller (3), Nick Brooks (3) (not in uniform: Ty Haywood, Jared Graham, Bear Fretwell)
GUARD: William Sanders (60), Mal Waldrep (60), Ethan Fields (3), Kaden Strayhorn (3) (not in uniform: Michael Carroll, Bryson Cooley)
WOLF OUTSIDE LINEBACKER: Yhonzae Pierre (39), Justin Hill (19), Jah-Marien Latham (8), Jamarion Matthews (3) (not in uniform: Bubba Odom)
INSIDE LINEBACKER: Caleb Woodson (48), Luke Metz (46), QB Reese (17), Xavier Griffin (7), Abduall Sanders (3) (did not play: Duke Johnson, Zay Hall) (not in uniform: Cayden Jones)
In Other News...
Alabama Had An Unexpected Game Problem While Trying To Settle Keelon Russell
During the third quarter against Kentucky, Alabama hit an unexpected snag while trying to settle in Keelon Russell, as the helmet communication link between the quarterback and offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb went out. It was the sort of disruption teams prepare for but rarely want to test in real time, especially with a young quarterback still finding his rhythm in a live game.
Russell said the Tide had practiced for that kind of situation and were able to shift to sideline commands without losing control of the offense. Alabama kept rolling anyway, finishing off a 45-17 win, and the episode offered a small reminder that even in a lopsided game, the details of communication can still matter. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State's Latest Shakeup Comes Right Before Alabama
Florida State made a notable leadership change just days before its meeting with Alabama, announcing that Michael Alford is no longer the athletics director after four years on the job. Bruce Warwick will handle the role in the interim as the school begins the search for a permanent replacement, adding another layer of uncertainty around a program already under scrutiny.
The timing matters because the Seminoles are trying to steady themselves amid concerns about the football programs recent performance under Mike Norvell. With Alabama looming, the administrative shakeup only adds to the sense that Florida State is entering a critical stretch with plenty still unresolved around the direction of the program. [Read more 🡒]
Alabamas Top 10 Return Puts One Big FSU Question On Offense
Alabamas climb back into the AP top 10 comes after a convincing 45-17 win over Kentucky, a result that was built on a strong second half and a defense that kept the game from slipping away. The Tide have also gotten encouraging early returns from Jackson Lloyd at left tackle, where he has not allowed a pressure through two games, while inside linebackers Luke Metz and Caleb Woodson have given the defense steady production.
Keelon Russells next task is the bigger one, because Alabama is heading into a Florida State game with more than rankings on the line. Russell said he needs to improve his play, and the matchup carries added weight after Alabamas previous loss to the Seminoles, making the offenses next step one of the main things to watch as the Tide try to keep building on this turnaround. [Read more 🡒]