EJ Crowell has brought a jolt of attention to Alabama’s running back room, and it’s easy to see why. The freshman has flashed the kind of strength and speed that turn heads fast, and even before he’s had much time in Tuscaloosa, teammates and fans are already talking about him like a future star.
But inside that position group, the reaction has to be a little different. Alabama’s backs can appreciate Crowell’s upside without letting the buzz become the main story. The real fight is for snaps, and that means every back in the room has to keep pushing to earn meaningful work.
The Crimson Tide’s depth chart at running back looks crowded in a good way. Daniel Hill is the expected RB1, while junior Kevin Riley, sophomore AK Dear and freshman Trae’shawn Brown are all in the mix for important roles. That kind of depth could lead to a steady rotation, with plenty of chances for different backs to make their case.
Riley has already been part of the offseason conversation after showing improvement, and he can’t be overlooked. Dear also appears to have a strong foothold as RB2, while Brown should not be treated like a throw-in freshman. He has real potential of his own.
After Monday’s practice, Ryan Grubb singled out Brown, Dear and Hill as standouts. The Alabama offensive coordinator sounded nearly ready to rave about how much the group has grown.
He pointed to Dear’s development and maturity as a big reason for his strong fall camp, saying, " ... what he thinks is possible now are very different (from last season). So I think he's a great teammate. ...
But also, you know, just being a better football player. Like AK, understanding protections was one of the issues of getting on the field, and he's come a long way."
That last part matters. A running back can’t just run the ball well and expect to play.
Blocking and protection are part of the job, and until a back proves he can handle those responsibilities, the playing time usually stays limited. Dear always had the talent to pop, but Grubb’s comments suggest the bigger step has been becoming a more complete back.
Brown and Dear still have to keep their eyes forward, though, because Crowell is forcing his way into the conversation. Grubb described him this way: "EJ is young, super explosive ... he runs physical, he runs bigger than he is, he's got speed on the long end."
He added, "He's just got to learn the game. He's got to learn how to practice full speed all the time.
He's a great kid, he wants to do it, he loves being here, he's an Alabama guy. But he's physical, he's tough, he's got great hands, the sky's the limit for him.
But he's got to learn the game."
That’s the balancing act for Alabama right now: a room with real depth, a young back with obvious juice, and several others fighting to stay ahead of the pack. If the offensive line gives the Tide better push and more running lanes than it did a season ago, this group has a chance to do serious damage.
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