Alabama is working to upgrade the running backs room

January 5, 2026 - Tuscaloosa – The University of Alabama football team did a lot of things right. They won 11 games, they beat rivals Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama in the regular season, they earned a spot in the SEC Championship game, they beat Oklahoma in the first round of the playoffs. The 11 an 4 campaign was a marked improvement over the 9 and 4 performance in Coach Kalen DeBoer's first year. One area where the Tide was notably weak last year was in the running game.

Star running back Jam Miller got concussed in August practices so missed the opener against Florida State. He left the Auburn game on crutches so missed the SEC Championship game against Georgia (both losses). He was hampered by injuries much of the season. Jam was a senior so has no eligibility left.

Redshirt sophomore Richard Young started in place of Miller in Alabama's first two games. The staff quickly moved away from him though, and he appeared in just five games. Young is reportedly in the transfer portal.

Senior Dre Washington also has run out of eligibility and will be trying to catch on with an NFL team.

Daniel Hill had moments in 2025 passing Young in the depth chart and subbing for Miller as needed. Hill had 75 carries for 284 rushing yards for 3.8 yards per carry. He also had 28 catches for 203 yards and one touchdown. He was Alabama's most productive all‑purpose back in 2025, but just never really had the breakout season that the Alabama fanbase and coaching staff expect out of the position. He reportedly is expected to enter the transfer portal.

Alabama does have freshman A.K. Dear and Kevin Riley returning.

Riley, a freshman, was Alabama's most versatile back in 2025. The Northport product played in 11 games, rushing 59 times for 224 yards, a 3.8 yards per carry average, and two touchdowns. He also had 19 catches for 176 yards and a touchdown, accounting for 400 total yards from Scrimmage.

Dear was a freshman out of Quitman, Mississippi. He amassed 19 carries for 140 rushing yards for 7.4 yards per carry and three rushing touchdowns, with his longest run going for 56 yards. He also had three catches for 18 receiving yards. Dear was used as a situational, change‑of‑pace back, but he made the most of his touches with explosive efficiency. Dear gives Alabama a burst option.

Freshman Jahill Davenport enters Alabama's 2026 season as one of the Tide's most intriguing young running backs. His blend of size and downhill physicality fits the SEC mold. Though he didn't record game action in 2025, Davenport spent the year developing and saw no game action for the Tide. His high‑school tape showed a back who thrives through contact and finishes runs with authority. The staff hopes that he will earn playing time in 2026.

Bama is adding to that running back room

Two running backs have either visited Alabama or are scheduled to visit.

Alabama has reportedly signed Hollywood Smothers from North Carolina State. He rushed for 939 yards and six touchdowns in 2025 at NC State. He also caught 37 passes for 189 yards. He was First‑Team All‑ACC in 2025.

Smothers visited on Monday and reportedly committed to the Tide. Observers expect him to be Alabama's starting running back in 2026 filling the role that Young and Miller shared last year.

Raleek Brown the Arizona State RB is listed as a confirmed visitor in the same report from Touchdown Alabama Magazine. He rushed for 1,141 yards and 4 TDs in 2025 at Arizona State. It is doubtful that Alabama will sign Brown given that they have added Smothers.

Backing up Smothers will likely be 4-star running back Ezavier Crowell out of Jackson, AL who signed in the 2026 recruiting class. He is ranked as the No. 3 player in Alabama and according to ESPN is the No. 3 RB nationally in the 2026 class. Crowell is a true SEC‑caliber, every‑down back.

Bama also flipped Javari Burnett a 3‑star RB (flipped from Illinois). Burnett is a physical, downhill runner.

The talent in the running backs room in 2025 may have been limited but the biggest issue in the Tide running game in 2025 was inconsistent offensive line play. The Tide linemen were among the biggest in the sport (weight and height) but seldom lived up to their potential in getting off the ball and blowing their man off the line of scrimmage. Mark Ingram and Derrick Henry (Heisman Trophy winning running backs at Alabama in 2009 and 2015) might not have flashed behind the 2025 offensive line.

The bottom Line for Alabama fans is that the coaching staff has upgraded the talent level of the running backs, but they need to improve o-line play to really achieve the offensive balance that was lacking in 2025.

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