Alabama may have found another freshman who can force his way onto the field sooner than expected, and Trae'shawn Brown is making that conversation impossible to ignore.
The 3-star running back didn’t even receive an offer from the Crimson Tide until the early signing period, but he has turned heads since arriving on campus in the spring. That kind of rise is becoming a theme for Kalen DeBoer, GM Courtney Morgan and the Alabama staff, who have already seen players such as Lotzeir Brooks and London Simmons arrive as 3-star recruits and become meaningful contributors as freshmen on the 2025 team.
Brown is now pushing to be the next one.
His emergence matters even more because Alabama’s backfield has been hit by injuries to both AK Dear and EJ Crowell. Even with the room at full strength, Brown had already been standing out. Now, with those absences opening the door a little wider, his case is getting stronger by the day.
Ryan Grubb put that into focus after Monday’s practice, and he singled out a trait that could be the key to Brown earning real snaps early:
“Really, really good empty-cut vision, meaning when he gets into a hole, blind cut defenders, he can see and feel that next guy," Grubb said about Brown." Very good anticipatory skills.
Great out of the backfield. Much better pass protector than people would think.
They think because he’s short, but he plays down the middle of defenders; he’s got good feet, and he’s a smart kid. Impressive young player.”
That pass-protection note stands out for a reason. For young running backs, running the ball is only part of the equation.
Coaches care just as much about whether a back can handle blocking responsibilities and help keep the quarterback clean. Plenty of talented backs have stayed on the sideline because of that one area, including Derrick Henry.
Brown appears to be checking that box.
He also helped his case with a strong showing in last Thursday’s scrimmage, and he has another chance to strengthen his grip on the rotation with Alabama’s second and final scrimmage coming Thursday. The depth chart ahead of him still includes veterans Daniel Hill and Kevin Riley, who are likely to be the first two backs up in the season-opener against East Carolina. Crowell could factor in as well if he can get - and stay - healthy after missing a lot of reps in both spring practice and fall camp.
Brown’s rise has been a sharp shift from where things stood when he signed in December. At that point, he was widely seen as a depth add, someone who might only see the field in garbage time during his first year in Tuscaloosa.
That no longer feels like the right read.
With less than three weeks left before the opener, Brown has worked himself into the picture as a legitimate playmaker in Alabama’s offense. The only real question now is how large a role he can claim - and whether the veterans in front of him can hold him off.
In Other News...
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Keelon Russell has emerged as the quarterback who appears to be ahead in the race, which gives Alabama a growing sense of direction as the season approaches. Austin Mack remains part of the conversation, but the gap seems to be forming at the right time for a staff trying to settle the position before the games start to count. Another checkpoint is coming soon, and the decision now feels less like a wide-open battle and more like one nearing its final turn. [Read more 🡒]
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Grubb has made it clear that the goal is to use personnel in a way that tests defenses and keeps Alabama flexible from down to down. The tight ends have stood out as a bright spot in camp, and the expectation is that their usage will rise as the offense settles in. For a unit looking for reliable answers and a little more strain on opposing coverage, that kind of depth gives the Tide a useful edge before the season even gets rolling. [Read more 🡒]
Alabamas Offensive Line Is Suddenly Fueling Real Buzz At Camp
There is a little more life around Alabamas offensive line this camp after a strong practice caught the attention of Aaron Taylor, the former Notre Dame lineman and Super Bowl champion who watched the group up close. Taylor came away impressed with the way the Tide were moving people in the run game, pointing to cleaner technique and a more forceful approach than he saw before, while also crediting the influence of offensive line coach Klemm.
For Alabama, that kind of outside validation matters because the line has been a central question as the offense tries to establish itself early in the season. Taylors read was that the group looked improved in the core areas that decide whether a team can control games at the line of scrimmage, and he especially noted the progress in run blocking. The question now is how consistently that camp buzz carries over once the real snaps start adding up. [Read more 🡒]