Alabama saw one running back stand out over the others during the Crimson Tide’s first scrimmage of fall camp
On Saturday, Kalen DeBoer singled out one running back’s name as being the top performer during Alabama’s first fall camp scrimmage.
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama needs more production from its running backs in 2025. A lot of factors went into the struggles from this room a season ago, but regardless, there’s got to be more of an impact from the primary ball-carriers moving forward.
Justice Haynes is now in Ann Arbor playing for Michigan, but the Crimson Tide still have a steady stable of running back options, including returning starter Jam Miller. Following the team’s first scrimmage of fall camp, Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer singled out Miller for his performance on Saturday morning.
“Jam started out really well,” DeBoer told reporters. “I think the offensive line did a nice job creating some seams for Jam to hit. Got to the second level and broke a couple of tackles. I thought it was one of the better showings I’ve seen Jam have in a scrimmage.”
Miller didn’t start last season as Alabama’s top back. Instead, it was Haynes who started the first six games. And yet, Miller was the one getting the most snaps and touches in a majority of those contests before taking over as the starter in a Week 8 road matchup against Tennessee. He served as the starter for the remainder of the season and hasn’t looked back.
Through his first three seasons, the former top-100 recruit has produced 1,319 total yards (1,092 rushing, 227 receiving) and 12 touchdowns on 240 touches. And despite having a high-cut frame, he’s got a low center of gravity and brings explosive long speed to the Crimson Tide offense. Yes, I’d like to see a little more creativity from him as a runner, but he’s got all the tools to be a successful back in this Kalen DeBoer-Ryan Grubb offense.
He wasn’t the only guy DeBoer mentioned following the scrimmage though.
“Daniel Hill is a guy we’re getting more and more comfortable with,” DeBoer continued. “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 [Washington] has been consistent all camp long. I thought he poured a couple of runs up in there. Did a nice job, maybe when there’s not even something there, just moving the pile and getting those three-yard gains that are important to setting your offense up for down-and-distances. Rich [Young] continues to do his thing too.
“So I think Jam certainly had the best day, and that’s been consistent. I 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.”
DeBoer was surprisingly revealing with a lot of his answers on Saturday. His breakdown was informative as far as how certain guys win, and how they might fit into the offense. We’re fairly certain the rotation is going to come down to some combination of four players, which includes Miller, Hill, Washington and Young. Will it be all four? Probably not, so it’s a matter of determining what the pecking order looks like.
We’ve long said Hill was a darkhorse for us.