ESPN names Alabama’s Ezavier Crowell as most ‘college-ready’ RB in 2026 class
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Alabama running back signee Ezavier Crowell picked up an accolade on Thursday.
ESPN analysts Craig Haubert and Tom Luginbill named Crowell as the most “college-ready” running back in the country for the 2026 signing class. The analysis came in a new piece discussing which prospects were the most “college-ready” and which had the most “NFL upside” at each position.
Crowell, a 5-star early-enrollee at Alabama, was singled out for his physical development and early path to playing time. Here’s the analysis from ESPN:
With Jam Miller moving on, Alabama’s running back depth chart is wide open and Crowell is built to take advantage. The 5-foot-11, 210-pounder brings a physical, downhill running style and a proven track record of production after reclassifying from the 2027 class. He rushed for 2,632 yards and 35 touchdowns in his final season, earning Alabama Mr. Football and Gatorade Player of the Year honors. Crowell racks up yards after contact with his advanced blend of power and balance. After the Tide struggled at times on the ground in 2025, Crowell’s well-rounded skill set and solid build will allow him to carry a big load and earn snaps quickly. He’ll get a leg up as an early enrollee this spring and could follow a similar trajectory as Ohio State true freshman Bo Jackson.
As ESPN notes, Crowell reclassified from 2027 to 2026 and still maintained 5-star status for this cycle. He was the No. 14 overall player and the No. 2 running back in the country for 2026, per 247Sports Composite rankings.
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Alabama struggled mightily to run the ball this season. Jam Miller was the most prolific, but he is headed to the NFL this spring. The Crimson Tide have not yet added a transfer running back this cycle, meaning Crowell and other returners such as Daniel Hill and AK Dear could be fighting for playing time.
Crowell has been committed to Alabama since June of 2025. He’s part of a high school signing class that ranks No. 2 nationally, per 247Sports Composite rankings.
Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.
