A look at Alabama football's 2025 running back position group

USA Today

4 hours ago

The 2025 Alabama Crimson Tide running back room ran for a total of 1,353 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 5.1 YPC last season.
These are solid statistics for a young group, but offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb needs the group to step up this season. This will take the pressure off first year starter Ty Simpson.
Keep in mind that quarterback Jalen Milroe was the team's leading rusher last season and third-leading rusher Justice Haynes has transferred to Michigan. This is a loss of 1,200 yards and 27 touchdowns.
Alabama now has running backs Richard Young, Daniel Hill, and AK Dear stepping into more prominent roles, and incoming Louisiana transfer Dre Washington will receive more carries as well. Jam Miller was the starting running back in the offense, but is now out due to injury during Saturday's scrimmage. This will create more opportunities for the other backs on depth chart.
Let's take a look at Alabama's 2025 running back room, as well as project the season for each.
Jam Miller - 5'10 221 - Senior
Jam Miller led the Crimson Tide running backs last year with 145 carries, 668 yards, and seven touchdowns. He also had 16 receptions, 155 yards, and another score. Jam shows excellent vision, burst, and patience as a runner. He jump cuts well and carries the football high and tight. He runs between the tackles effectively, but also has enough speed and burst for big plays and chunk yardage. Jam is on the 2025 Doak Walker Watch List and is preseason Third Team All-SEC. Jam suffered an upper body injury during Saturday's scrimmage and is currently out indefinitely, the timetable for recovery is currently unknown. 2025 Projection: TBD
Richard Young - 5'11 212 - Redshirt Sophomore
Richard Young was a highly touted high school prospect who can emerge as Alabama's No. 2 back behind Miller. Young was ranked as the No. 1 running back in the nation according to ESPN in 2023. He had 27 carries and 146 yards last season, including a 62-yard run vs. Missouri. Young was a track star in high school, and has enough long speed to take it the distance. He ran both the 100 and 200 meters in high school. That being said, I really like him between the tackles for short yardage needs. He is a north/south runner who gets skinny through the holes and can keep the chains moving for the offense. He has enough vision and burst to be a home run threat as well. 2025 Projection: 60 carries, 300 yards, 7 TD
Dre Washington - 5'9 216 - Redshirt Senior
Dre Washington is a redshirt senior transfer from Louisiana. Dre played meaningful reps for the Cajuns in the last three seasons compiling 1,343 yards, nine touchdowns, and 5.9 YPC. Dre is a big play back who has a very smooth stride. He can be a change of pace back for the Tide after Jam Miller and Richard Young have worn down the defense. He reminds me of Felix Jones who played at the University of Arkansas from 2005-07 and was an eventual first round pick to the Dallas Cowboys. Dre is a long strider with good vision and cutting ability. He is looking to run away from tacklers and has the elusiveness to do so. He may not receive a super high volume of carries, but he has the speed and agility to have one the highest yard per carry averages in the conference. 2025 Projection: 60 carries, 360 yards, 6.0 YPC, 5 TD
Daniel Hill - 6'1 244 - Sophomore
Hill is physically impressive and definitely the most versatile back in the Alabama running back room. Hill is a running back, but could also be considered an athlete. He played multiple different offensive positions in high school. His build and athletic ability remind me of Alabama great Trent Richardson. Hill is truly a man child who can cut and move in space. He doesn't have elite speed, but has elite athletic ability and can create big plays for the Tide because of his versatility. He will be able to catch out of the backfield, but will also be a physical runner between the tackles. Hill may be the most intriguing back for the Tide, but is young and needs game experience. He will have value as a decoy that his stats won't calibrate. Can be the Dark Horse of the group in 2025. 2025 Projection: 45 carries, 230 yards, 5 TD
AK Dear - 6'1 212 - Freshman
AK Dear is a talented true freshman out of Mississippi. He has home run threat potential and great separation speed. AK Dear reminds me of Adrian Peterson because he is a physical runner who can get to the second and third level in a split second. How much playing time he gets at Alabama this season remains to be seen. Right now he is likely the fifth back on Alabama's depth chart due to his youth and inexperience. He will likely see most of his reps against lesser tier opponents and in mop up duty. This will get him acclimated to pass protection and SEC game speed. His reps will definitely be something for the Tide faithful to look forward to as he will give the offense electricity. Look for a couple of long touchdown runs this season when the F]freshman touches the football. 2025 Projection: 30 carries, 150 yards, 2 TD
Kevin Riley - 5'11 191 - Redshirt Freshman
Kevin Riley is a talented redshirt Freshman out of Tuscaloosa County High School. He only had 10 carries for 30 yards last season, so too small of a sample size to judge what he can contribute this season. Riley had an impressive high school career, averaging 6.43 yards per carry as a junior. Riley was ranked the No. 3 RB in the country according to the 247Sports Composite. Riley can be described as a patient runner with great burst and anticipation. He is looking to exploit creases at the second and third levels to make house calls. He does a great job of getting skinny through the holes and searching for daylight. He also has great feet and contact balance as he broke many tackles at the high school level. He has great play strength and is difficult to bring down by one tackler. He is a one cut guy who is searching for a crease to score a touchdown.
The uncertainty surrounding Jam Miller's injury is definitely a concern. He underwent a procedure Saturday evening, and the time table for recovery is unknown. However, the Tide have a talented and deep group, they just need repetitions and game experience. They have two nationally recognized offensive linemen blocking for them (Parker Brailsford, Kadyn Proctor), but also have a first year starting quarterback (Ty Simpson). Look for a lot of cutting and scoring 20-30 yard touchdowns. They have multiple backs who can get to the second and third level very quickly. This should create balance in Ryan Grubb's offense and take pressure off Ty Simpson. Look for tired defenses trying to tackle a speedy backfield.
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