The Alabama Crimson Tide has a run game problem, or at least one of its future running backs thinks so. Alabama running back commit Nigel Newkirk made some polarizing comments about the Crimson Tide offense, shared in a post from Olivia Sayer. A lot of fans have directed the blame for the situation at offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb.

“I feel like they [Alabama] should really use the run game just a little more,” Newkirk said.

That is not what you want to hear from a running back commit, especially with LSU on deck.

Ryan Grubb’s comments add fuel to the fire

The timing makes Newkirk’s comments sting even more. They came a day after Grubb addressed the run game ahead of the LSU matchup.

“I believe our guys can run the football on these guys. I think we’ve run against some good fronts this season,” Grubb said.

Grubb went on to add that Alabama’s running backs need to take what’s given to them and not try to hit a home run on every play. So the offensive coordinator believes the ground game is there for the taking, while a running back commit wants to see more of it. That is a disconnect fans are going to notice.

What the numbers say about Alabama’s run game

To be fair to Grubb, the Crimson Tide’s run game is better than it was in 2025. It’s just not up to the standard we’ve seen from Alabama in the past.

The 2026 team is on pace for more rushing yards than last year’s group, even with games left to play. More importantly, look at the yards per carry. Alabama is averaging about 4.63 yards per carry, compared to 3.45 a season ago. That is more than a full yard per carry better, which is a significant jump.

The truth is, a lot of that improvement is skewed by the early-season schedule. The Crimson Tide ran the ball well against FSU, ECU, and Kentucky. However, that version of the run game hasn’t shown back up against Tennessee or even Texas A&M. A strong start padded the averages, and the recent production hasn’t matched it.

That is why Newkirk’s comments land the way they do. The overall numbers look fine on paper. Even so, anyone watching Alabama over the last stretch of games can see the ground attack has stalled.

Why the LSU game matters beyond the scoreboard

So the question is whether Alabama can right the ship against LSU. Grubb clearly believes his backs can find success against the Tigers’ front. Now the Crimson Tide has to prove it on the field.

If Alabama doesn’t, it risks more than losing a big game. It potentially risks losing commits like Newkirk. Why would a running back commit to Alabama if he sees the team isn’t even trying to run the football? Recruits watch these games closely, and running backs want to land somewhere that will feed them the ball.

In my opinion, this weekend serves as a test for the play-calling as much as the players. If Alabama leans on the run and it works, Grubb looks right, and the noise quiets down. If the Crimson Tide abandons it again, expect the frustration from fans and recruits to grow louder.

We will see what Alabama does this weekend against LSU.