Alabama’s run game has been one of the offseason’s biggest talking points, and the name drawing the loudest buzz in Tuscaloosa is the one fans expected all along: EJ Crowell.
The 5-star freshman has barely settled in, yet he’s already forcing teammates to notice. On Saturday at Alabama Fan and Media Day, Tide 100.9’s Wyatt Fulton asked sophomore defensive lineman London Simmons which player in practice had been “popping,” the one who had put in the work and was poised for a payoff this season. Simmons didn’t hesitate.
“EJ Crowell, for sure,” Simmons said.
That kind of endorsement matters, especially coming from a player like Simmons, who understands what it looks like when a freshman earns trust fast. He wasn’t nearly as decorated in the 2025 recruiting class as Crowell was in the 2026 cycle, but he still carved out meaningful playing time as a true freshman.
Last season, Simmons played in all 15 games and made two starts. He’s now projected to start at defensive tackle for Alabama, even with the Crimson Tide’s defensive line rotation deeper than it was a year ago.
For Alabama, the hope is that Crowell can become the kind of difference-maker the offense needs. Kalen DeBoer and his staff have spent the offseason trying to improve the ground game, and the changes along the offensive line were part of that push. But the backfield still needs someone who can tilt the field.
Daniel Hill has been putting in the work to raise his level, and AK Dear and Kevin Riley are expected to move forward too. Even so, Crowell stands out as the most gifted back in the room, and that has been clear in fall camp.
There’s a caveat, of course. Crowell missed most of the spring because of an injury, which cost him valuable reps on the field. That leaves mental reps as an important part of his early development, and those will matter just as much as anything he does with the ball in his hands if he’s going to get on the field quickly.
Pass protection will also be a key hurdle. If Crowell can get up to speed there and fit in fast, the ceiling is obvious even as a freshman.
The comparison making the rounds is Ohio State freshman back Bo Jackson from a year ago. Jackson needed a few weeks, but he eventually became the Buckeyes’ featured back and finished with more than 1000 yards rushing last season.
Alabama’s situation is not identical, though. Ohio State got better play up front than Alabama did in 2025, and that matters plenty when projecting what Crowell can do right away. Still, if Crowell is as good as he looks and Hill keeps trending upward, Alabama’s backfield could end up being more dangerous than the preseason talk suggests.
In Other News...
Yhonzae Pierre Just Put Alabama In A Big 2026 Conversation
Todd McShays latest look ahead to the 2026 NFL Draft gives Alabama another sign that its pass-rush pipeline is staying firmly in the national conversation. The NFL Draft analyst recently stacked his top six college edge rushers for that class, and the SEC showed up in force, with names like South Carolinas Dylan Stewart and Texas Colin Simmons leading the way alongside Alabamas Yhonzae Pierre.
For the Crimson Tide, Pierre landing in that mix is the kind of recognition that can change how the rest of the sport talks about a defender before the season even gets rolling. Stewart has already been slowed by a back injury in camp, while Simmons comes in after leading the SEC in sacks last season, but Pierres presence on McShays list suggests Alabama could have a real early say in how the top of the 2026 edge market takes shape. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama May Have Found An Under The Radar 2027 Defensive Line Target
Alabamas 2027 defensive line board has been relatively quiet so far, but Jeremiah Mark is the kind of name that can change the feel of a class early. The Picayune, Mississippi, prospect is unranked for now, yet the Crimson Tide have already put a scholarship on the table after he recently returned to football following a stretch centered on basketball. For a staff that spent much of its energy elsewhere after a strong 2026 cycle, it is another sign that Alabama is already combing for developmental pieces along the front.
Mark also has visits lined up for Alabama games this fall, including the East Carolina opener and the Georgia matchup in October, which should give the Tide a better read on where he fits and how much upside remains once he settles back into the sport. With only a few 2027 defensive line commitments in hand, Alabama does not need to rush, but it does need to keep identifying players who could grow into bigger targets as the cycle unfolds. [Read more 🡒]