Alabama’s running back room took an early hit in fall camp, but it also opened a lane for a freshman who has been turning heads since spring.
Kalen DeBoer said 5-star freshman EJ Crowell was held out of Thursday’s first scrimmage because of another injury after he missed most of the spring. DeBoer added that it should not affect game action, but the freshman still needs the reps after already losing so much time.
The more worrisome situation is AK Dear. The sophomore had been putting together a strong offseason and was making a real case for a role in the offense.
He was in the middle of a solid scrimmage before being helped to the locker room with an ankle injury. DeBoer said he will be evaluated further, and there was no immediate word on how serious it is.
For a backfield that was already light on experience, losing two rotational options this early is a rough break.
But it also gives Alabama another chance to see what it has in Trae’shawn Brown.
The freshman has been one of the biggest surprises of camp, building on the buzz he created in spring practice and pushing himself toward an immediate role. Alabama’s own video of camp showed off what has coaches excited: Brown running through contact in one clip and making a sharp jump cut in another. The burst is real, and so is the belief that he’s going to be hard to keep off the field.
Brown’s rise has been fast. He wasn’t on the radar for most Alabama fans when the early signing period rolled around last December, and he was likely headed to Boise State with no Power Four offers. Alabama came in late, offered, and Brown signed before heading to Tuscaloosa sight unseen.
Since then, the reviews have only gotten better. People around the program have even tossed out Josh Jacobs comparisons, pointing to Jacobs as another under-the-radar 3-star recruit who ended up in Alabama and kept climbing. Brown doesn’t need to become a first-round pick to justify the hype, but the talent has been obvious from the moment he arrived.
He impressed in spring. He’s kept it going in fall camp. And he reportedly stood out again in the scrimmage.
Daniel Hill is the RB1 right now, but the bigger picture in the room is clear: Crowell and Dear need to get healthy, and Brown is making sure his name stays in the conversation. He may be headed for a freshman role that comes sooner than anyone expected.
In Other News...
Alabama May Already Have Early Answers After First Fall Scrimmage
Alabamas first fall scrimmage at Bryant-Denny Stadium offered an early look at where some of the rosters pieces may already be settling in under Kalen DeBoer. The head coach came away encouraged by several spots, with the defensive line working through a new look up front after the departures that opened the door for transfers Devan Thompkins and Terrance Green. Even with some injuries affecting parts of the offense, the wide receiver and running back groups showed enough promise to give the staff a little more to work with as camp moves forward.
The bigger question now is how quickly the offense can turn that individual flash into something more complete, especially with the offensive line still building cohesion. Tight end is another area worth watching, and sophomore Kaleb Edwards is in position to take on the starting Y role. For a team still sorting out its depth chart, the first scrimmage suggested Alabama may already have a few answers, even if the most important ones are still coming into focus. [Read more 🡒]
Alabamas First Scrimmage May Have Quietly Settled Multiple Starting Jobs
Alabamas first fall camp scrimmage may not have produced any public declarations, but it did offer some clues about where the depth chart is starting to firm up. Kalen DeBoer pointed to consistency in the offensive line rotation, a sign that the staff may already have a better sense of who belongs with the first unit as the Tide move deeper into August. On a roster still sorting out key spots, even that kind of steady usage can feel meaningful.
The same was true on defense, where the linebacker picture got a little clearer around the Stinger position next to Caleb Woodson. The quarterback battle, though, remains very much alive, even if Keelon Russell drew the more favorable review from the scrimmage. Alabama still has real decisions ahead, but the first live look of camp at least suggested a few jobs are beginning to separate from the pack. [Read more 🡒]