Continuing on a theme we introduced last year, we’re breaking down Alabama’s roster and going in-depth with our preview in advance of previews for the other 15 SEC teams.
In recent years, we’ve waited until fall camp began to take a look at the upcoming team, giving the coaches every possible second to finalize a pre-camp roster. This has led to content droughts, however, so we’ve chosen to break up the 2026 Alabama team preview into eight segments, following our traditional eight-category game previews.
Fans who are familiar with our preview articles know we rate each unit and place them in one of five categories: Excellent, Very Good, Average, Fair and Poor. Continuing on something we started in 2025, we do a little advance scouting at the player level as well; if there is something that stands out, good or bad, it is noted for the players.
Today, we take a look at the running back group, which poses a conundrum to us as we pass out the ratings: On paper, this unit doesn’t deserve a rating of “Fair.” However, based on 2025 results, “Fair” would be an improvement. Last year saw Alabama put up one of the worst rankings in school history in rushing offense, yet Jam Miller was drafted and there is a ton of buzz surrounding multiple backs, notably A.K. Dear and Ezavier Crowell.
No walk-ons are rated in these articles – outside of the Special Teams preview, which will be the final in this series – unless we believe the walk-on in question has a real chance of making the actual playing rotation, not just playing in blowout situations. Players are listed below in the way we believe they finished spring camp. For players who were not yet on the team in the spring, they are listed at the end of their respective categories.
RUNNING BACKS (rating: Fr)
1. Kevin Riley (So., 5-11, 198)
Strengths: Plus-hands as a receiver, will go at larger defenders aggressively, top-tier speed for a RB
Weaknesses: Not an inside banger, doesn’t create openings and needs a crease to get going, liability in short yardage
Analysis: The Kalen DeBoer era has been marked by certain body types and playing styles being favored over others, perhaps none more obvious than the running back position. Other than Daniel Hill, another large-bodied holdover from the Nick Saban recruiting days, Alabama has gotten progressively smaller at running back and Kevin Riley is the slimmest of the Alabama running backs coming back from 2025. Riley is a weapon as a receiver, especially on screens, and is able to pressure the edges of a defensive line with regularity. As an inside runner, though, he hasn’t been nearly as consistent. There is always the risk of overmatch, whether it’s against inside linebackers, or in pass protection, but Riley is a try-hard who frequently punches above his weight. The ranking of “Fair” for Alabama running backs is more a function of past performance; if there’s anyone that can force things up a notch, it’s Kevin Riley.
2. Daniel Hill (Jr., 6-1, 236)
Strengths: Good north-south power, surprisingly soft hands as a receiver, hard worker who has tried to fit into the new paradigm
Weaknesses: Lacks quick feet in the box, needs to clean up pass pro, inconsistent in applying power at goal line
Analysis: Hill worked hard in the spring to get the weight down and be more nimble in close quarters, but at A-Day results were mixed, especially in goal-line work. We like his hands and his ability to be a changeup from Kevin Riley and Akylin Dear, but for a guy who still clocks in just 10 pounds less than Derrick Henry weighed at Alabama, he seems to get caught up in the wash too easily. This will be a huge fall camp for Hill, because in general, Alabama seems to be done recruiting massive power backs as long as DeBoer is around. This is going to be sort of a do-or-die year for Hill with the talent coming up behind him.
3. Akylin Dear (RFr., 6-1, 214)
Strengths: True homerun threat, makes a lot of guys miss at the line, one-cut-then-turbo type of running style
Weaknesses: Wildly inconsistent in the passing game, especially pass blocking; plays smaller than his size would suggest
Analysis: The principal reason to slow-roll the hype around Ezavier Crowell is that A.K. Dear was that guy at this point in 2025, and it didn’t work out. Dear showed plenty of talent in blowouts over lesser teams, but he couldn’t be fully trusted against tougher opponents due to inconsistency in assignments. If running back was just about running, we’d probably pick Dear as the starter in 2026, at least in the early going. But he has several levels to go up to get to where Kevin Riley and Daniel Hill are when either the ball isn’t in his hands, or is arriving through the air. Like Hill, this is a crucial time for Dear, because Crowell and Trae’shawn Brown are coming on fast. He also needs to do more with his build, because we didn’t see a lot of big-boy moves from him last year when he met defenders in the hole. No one can discount his ability to create defensive misses at the point of attack, however.
4. Ezavier Crowell (Fr., 5-11, 221)
Strengths: High school tape is legendary, good size with the ability to run away from even the fastest DBs
Weaknesses: No experience and didn’t participate in much of spring work, no way to know yet whether he can be trusted in pass pro
Analysis: We’re going off pure potential here, because fellow true freshman Trae’shawn Brown looked like a monster at A-Day. Put on Crowell’s high school tape, though, and what you see is one of the most talented running back prospects in Alabama high school football over at least the last 30 years. If he’s as good as advertised, he could very well wind up the starter by the third or fourth game of the year. That’s how impressive the raw talent is. But betting on true freshmen is the most Vegas-like thing a person can do in this sport. More likely, Crowell works himself into the back end of the playing rotation as the season goes along, then takes a big move forward in 2027.
5. Trae’shawn Brown (Fr., 5-10, 201)
Strengths: Arrived with good off-ball skills, stable center of gravity allows him to survive contact, good speed and receiving skills
Weaknesses: No experience, trying to size up a bit for inside running duty but is a year away
Analysis: Brown was arguably the offensive surprise of spring 2026, outperforming all other running backs who played at A-Day and setting himself up for potential playing time in the fall. Signed as a scatback prospect and almost certain redshirt, Brown plays bigger than his size would indicate and is now trying to better fill out his frame. The most impressive part of his A-Day performance was his pass protection skills, which were veteran-level and good enough to allow him to contribute immediately. It remains to be seen whether he can fend off Crowell and work his way past Akylin Dear, but we’re not betting against him.
6. Khalifa Keith (Jr., 6-1, 232)
Strengths: Size, prior experience at multiple FBS programs
Weaknesses: Speed, not a cutback runner, can create holes but doesn’t make many people miss
Analysis: Keith is well-traveled, most recently playing at Tennessee, and ostensibly was signed for short-yardage duty and perhaps even as a fullback. Not much was expected of him when he joined the program but Keith made a favorable impression in the spring and his value may extend beyond special teams duty in the fall. We believe he’s significantly behind the other names on this list, but if something were to happen to Daniel Hill specifically, Keith is Alabama’s lone option as an inside banger.