2025 Alabama Fall Football Preview: Are Running Backs a Concern?

Yahoo

15 hours ago

In 2023 with the Washington Huskies, Kalen DeBoer produced his first 1,000+ yard rusher as an FBS head coach when Dillon Johnson went for 1,195 yard and 16 touchdowns. In DeBoer's first Alabama season, the decision was made that utilizing quarterback Jalen Milroe as the primary ball carrier was the best path to success. As a result, Milroe dashed for 726 yards and 20 scores. Those are good numbers to be sure, but they came at the expense of the running backs corps.
Jam Miller was the Tide's leading running back rusher last season with 668 yards. That total represents the lowest single season leading number by an Alabama running back since Ahmaad Galloway tallied 659 in the difficult 3-8 season of 2000. With Milroe is Seattle, that trend is bound to change. The Crimson Tide running backs will be leaned on much more in 2025 as the primary ball carriers as well as receivers.
For a program that has had seven running backs drafted from 2018 to 2024, Alabama is an unusual position of not having a marquee running back on the team – the kind of guy that the whole college football world talks about. Of all the question marks on this team, running back is a big one and nobody seems to be talking about it. Miller's experience puts him at the top of the depth chart for now. However, it's not outside the realm of possibilities that he finds himself unseated by one of the younger guys or the transfer.
COACHSPEAK
Following the second practice of fall camp, Alabama offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb spoke with the media. One discussion led to the Crimson Tide running backs.
'They all have different skillsets. Jam, again another one of our leaders on the football team. Jam is a super smart player, good hands out of the backfield. Really physical, he's running strong at 220 right now. Good top-end speed. Daniel (Hill) is your bigger back downhill, Richard (Young) is that kind of guy. Dre Washington is a guy who's really showed up the first few days. I was really impressed with his vision.
'I think the big thing, they all have their style of running that they are good at. I think the pass protection, the consistency and understanding their rules and things like that, I think everybody's playing catch-up to Jam. Making sure those guys come along and get there. Coach G (Robert Gillespie) does a phenomenal job getting those running backs ready for that.'
One of the biggest obstacles for running backs moving from the high school ranks up to the FBS – and more importantly the SEC level – is pass blocking 6-2, 235 lbs maniac blitzers who already have half of a dozen steps of momentum to get to ramming speed. Miller definitely has a step up on the rest of the contenders in this category.
More recently after the first scrimmage last Saturday, DeBoer had some nice things to say about Miller and some seriously vague comments about others.
'Jam started out really well. I thought the offensive line did a nice job creating some seams for Jam to hit; got to the second level and broke a couple tackles. I thought it was one of the better showings I've seen Jam have in a scrimmage.
'Daniel Hill is a guy we're getting more and more comfortable with. He's a big back, but I think he's deceiving when it comes to what he does from a skillset standpoint because he can catch the ball out of the backfield.
'Dre has been consistent all camp long. I thought he poured a couple balls – a couple runs up in there. Did a nice job, maybe when there's not even something there, just moving the pile and getting those 3-yard gains that are important to setting your offensive up for good down and distances.
'Rich continues to do his thing, too… All of them.
'I think Jam certainly had the best day, and that's been consistent. Feel good about all of them in pass protection, first with their responsibilities and the ability to go up there and execute, too, and get the job done with blitzes and things like that. Our running backs are doing a good job and when they get out, they've been effective pass-catchers, as well.
In both instances, DeBoer and Grubb raved about Miller, who is clearly the No. 1. They both also mentioned Daniel Hill, Richard Young, and ULL transfer Dre Washington with Hill mentioned second after Jam in both instances. These two quotes seem to give some insight into how the rotation might unfold.
DEPARTED
Justice Haynes (448 yds, 7 TD) – The Tide's No. 2 from last season never quite lived up to the lofty expectations of a 5-star recruit. He was good but not great. Plus, he battled injuries in his two season in Tuscaloosa. He never could take over the top spot. Haynes has transferred to Michigan and is expected to be their No. 1.
RETURNING
Now in his fifth season, running backs coach Robert Gillespie is the most tenured Crimson Tide assistants after DL coach Freddie Roach (Year 6). The 45-year old has coached at the Capstone since 2021. This might be a pivotal season for Gillespie.
# 26 Jam Miller (Sr., 5' 10''/221) – As mentioned, Miller was the leading running back rusher in 2024. As a freshman, he was the fourth team running back. In 2023, he moved up one notch. Last year, he was the No. 1 and most experienced back. He had some good moments but did not quite feel like RBs of the past decade and a half. Against SEC opponents, only once did he rush for 50 yards or more, and that was against Auburn. He tallied 84 yards in that game on a career-high 28 carries, but that averages out to only 3.0 yards per carry. In fact, from the first SEC game (vs Georgia) to the end of the season, he averaged 3.5 ypc.
That is not to say Miller not a good football player. It's just that he has yet to be tasked with carrying a team through a game. Tide fans have been spoiled by the riches of Nick Saban-era running backs. Yet, there was one among that group who seemed to languish deep in the depth chart for most of his college career until he got to his last season, and that guy just happens to now be the starting running back for the Washington NFL team. Let's hope Jam turns into a B-Rob instead of a forgotten back in the annals of Alabama history.
With six scholarship running backs on the roster, depth is not a problem. The real issues are the lack of experience for these younger guys and keeping everyone healthy.
# 9 Richard Young (R-So., 5' 11''/212) did not get too many opportunities to tote the rock in 2024 – 27 rushes, 146 yards, 2 TD – mostly due to a leg injury he suffered in Week 3 against Wisconsin. However, he did play in seven games and had some flashes of brilliance, including exclamation points against Mizzou and LSU. Young received a fair amount of buzz during spring practice and should get plenty of chances to show what he can do.
# 4 Daniel Hill (So., 6' 1''/244) played in nine games as a freshman between offense and special teams. He tallied 61 yards on 21 carries, all in garbage time. The numbers aren't great but the fact that the staff saw fit to burn his redshirt speaks volumes to their belief in his immediate value to the team. Along with the current attaboys, Hill also received some praise from the coaching staff back during the spring practices. He is by far the biggest back on the roster by 20+ pounds.
# 28 Kevin Riley (R-Fr., 5' 11''/191) played in only two games as a true freshman (4th quarters vs WKU and Mercer). With no A-Day Game this past spring, it is difficult to get a handle on what he brings to the table. DeBoer previously eluded that Riley may have been battling an injury a season ago but is healthy now. The scouting report on the Tuscaloosa native is that he is a shifty kind of runner with explosiveness. Clues to his future with the team may lay on how much he participates on special teams this fall.
NEWBIES
#20 Dre'lyn 'Dre' Washington (R-Sr., 5' 9''/216 ) was the third option at RB for Louisiana-Lafayette in 2024. He had 73 rushes for 478 yards and 5 TD for the Ragin' Cajuns in that campaign. Even so, the Bama staff must see something in him that they think is special. With this being his final season of eligibility, there must be a common sentiment between the two parties that Washington can be a significant contributor to the Tide offense in 2025. He has a good burst at the line and can turn on the jets with breakaway speed when in the open field. It will be interesting to see what he can do behind a competent offensive line.
#0 AK Dear (Fr., 6' 1''/212) – Not to be outdone, Alabama signed this high 4-star prospect who was the No. 2 ranked running back in the nation for the Class of 2025. The Quitman, MS native ran for 2,016 rushing yards and 27 touchdowns in his senior year. As long as everyone else stays relatively healthy, he may be looking a redshirt this season.
ACCOLADES
Along with being added to the The Doak Walker Award watch list, given annually to the nation's top running back, Miller was named preseason third team All-SEC by the media at SEC Media Days.
PREDICTED DEPTH CHART
It may be a running back by committee sort of campaign this fall. The pecking order could look like the following:
JAM MILLER
DANIEL HILL
DRE WASHINGTON
RICHARD YOUNG
KEVIN RILEY/AK DEAR
Who is second behind Jam Miller?