Alabama’s offense finally looked like the version people in Tuscaloosa have been waiting for, and now it’s getting two more pieces back.
After opening Saturday’s game against Florida State with two empty possessions, the Crimson Tide settled in and never really let go. Keelon Russell played with the kind of poise and control that made the whole operation look smooth, guiding Alabama through nine straight scoring drives. The only non-scoring possession after that came when Russell took a knee to finish the game.
That was the big takeaway: Alabama found a rhythm on offense, and it did it with balance. Russell picked apart the Seminoles’ secondary, while the run game kept hammering away. The Crimson Tide piled up 220 second-half rushing yards, with 140 of those coming in the fourth quarter alone.
That same offense is now set to get a boost this weekend against South Carolina. According to Kalen DeBoer, sophomore running back AK Dear and NC State transfer wide receiver Noah Rogers “will be available” for the game.
Dear and Rogers both dressed and went through warm-ups in each of Alabama’s first three games, and Dear had been listed as questionable for the last two weekends. Both are expected to make their 2026 debuts against the Gamecocks.
Dear’s return could matter right away. He was tracking as either Alabama’s RB1 or RB2 in fall camp before suffering a high-ankle sprain in the first scrimmage, and by all accounts he had been having a strong camp before the injury. His comeback gives DeBoer and Ryan Grubb another real option in a backfield that has already been productive.
Daniel Hill, EJ Crowell, and Trae'shawn Brown have given Alabama plenty through three games. The Tide are averaging 209 rushing yards per game, a major jump from last season’s 104. That makes the backfield picture crowded, and it will be interesting to see how Dear fits into the rotation.
Rogers should help on the outside as well. The veteran transfer was expected to start for Alabama alongside Ryan Coleman-Williams and Lotzeir Brooks before a major spring injury changed the plan. He beat the original recovery timeline and is ready to return.
His absence opened the door for others. Junior Rico Scott has been dependable as both a receiver and blocker, while sophomore Derek Meadows has faded after a fast start. Freshman Cederian Morgan, meanwhile, turned his first career catch into the touchdown that sparked Alabama’s comeback against Florida State.
Rogers gives the Crimson Tide more depth at receiver, and another possible difference-maker for an offense that is starting to look dangerous.
In Other News...
Alabama Just Got A Troubling Roster Update Fans Didnt Expect
Alabamas roster has taken a quieter turn than fans were expecting, with head coach Kalen DeBoer confirming that offensive lineman Chris Booker is no longer with the Crimson Tide. DeBoer did not offer a specific reason for Bookers departure, leaving one more unanswered question for a team that has been managing its depth as the season moves along.
There was at least some better news on the injury front. Linebacker Cayden Jones is out for the season with an undisclosed injury, but running back AK Dear and wide receiver Noah Rogers are expected to be available after working back from injuries. For Alabama, the bigger picture now is how quickly the lineup can settle again after another unexpected shift. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Just Got A Clearer SEC Warning Before Week 4
Week 3 across the SEC offered another reminder that the leagues hierarchy is still taking shape, and Alabama is heading into Week 4 with the standings conversation getting sharper by the day. Ole Miss and LSU delivered one of the weekends most watched conference matchups, while teams around the league kept shuffling the picture through a mix of league and nonconference results.
The updated power rankings reflect that kind of volatility, with wins and losses already forcing a fresh look at Arkansas, South Carolina, Auburn, Vanderbilt, Kentucky, Missouri, Oklahoma, Mississippi State, Florida and Texas A&M. For Alabama, the takeaway is less about where everyone sits today than how quickly the margin for error can change once the next round of SEC games arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Enters SEC Play With A Problem DeBoer Must Fix Fast
Alabama is 3-0 and fresh off a 50-36 win over Florida State, but the unbeaten start did not erase the issues that have shown up early in games. As SEC play begins, Kalen DeBoer, Ryan Grubb and Kane Wommack spent part of their press conference talking through the slow starts, the need for continued player development and the areas that still need tightening up, with the defense drawing particular attention.
South Carolina is next, and the tone around Tuscaloosa was less about celebrating the record than about making sure Alabama plays cleaner when the games get harder. DeBoer and his coordinators also fielded questions about the status of key players, a reminder that September momentum only matters if the Tide can carry it into the conference schedule with the sort of urgency this team has not always shown early. [Read more 🡒]