Alabama Crimson Tide’s latest transfer portal addition adds depth to a unit that has to perform much better in 2026
Alabama finally added a running back in the transfer portal.
There was a time not so long ago that the Alabama Crimson Tide thought they had found its running back duo for the 2025 season. Alongside Ezavier Crowell, the Crimson Tide added Hollywood Smothers to the backfield as the flagship commitment of the portal.
Then, Smothers quickly jumped ship for a bigger payday, joining and ultimately signing with the Texas Longhorns, and letting Alabama know about it. Alabama was never able to find his replacement in the portal and while its latest addition doesn’t come with the same pedigree, he does bring something that the backfield in Tuscaloosa needs.
Alabama adds experienced RB Khalifa Keith via transfer portal
Justin Smith of Touchdown Alabama was the first to report that Keith had committed to the Tide. The Birmingham, Alabama, native started his career with the Tennessee Volunteers before joining App State in 2025.
At 22 years old and well over 6 feet and 220 plus pounds, Keith is a bulldozer, similar to what the Tide has in Daniel Hill, but with more seasoning. I wouldn’t be shocked if you look up at some point in 2026 and you see Crowell and Keith as the leading ball carriers for the Crimson Tide after a game.
We know that Alabama went all in when it came to overhauling its trenches in 2026, leaving no stone unturned up front. Beyond that, the Crimson Tide will undoubtedly have a first-year starter at quarterback, whether that’s Austin Mack or Keelon Russell. That means they undoubtedly will need to be better at rushing the football.
Alabama has the second-worst rushing yards per game in the SEC in 2025, averaging just north of 100 per game. Honestly, if you take away the Eastern Illinois game, that number would be even lower. Kalen DeBoer and the staff as a whole know that’s unacceptable, and signings like these are the way to fix it.
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