Kalen DeBoer expects Alabama’s EJ Crowell to be ready for fall, per report
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A better season for Alabama in 2026 begins on the ground.
The Crimson Tide were awful running the football last season. They ranked 126th out of 136 FBS offenses in rushing efficiency (3.35 yards per carry) and ended the year without a 600-yard rusher for the first time since 1990.
There is hope for improvement in 2026. This offseason, coach Kalen DeBoer hired former New England Patriots assistant Adrian Klemm to run the offensive line. The Athletic‘s Bruce Feldman and Ralph D. Russo reported on Friday that Klemm has the Tide “coming off the ball better” already.
The Athletic also reported that DeBoer expects 5-star freshman running back EJ Crowell to be “ready to roll” by June. Crowell was hampered throughout the spring with a lower leg injury and did not play in the team’s spring game. A return to action next month would give Crowell a chance to hit the ground running when fall camp opens.
“He’s got great balance,” DeBoer told The Athletic. “And he’s got that mindset of he’s just not gonna go down. He’s got a lot to learn though with getting those reps in the offense. It isn’t just about his knowledge. It’s about getting those reps especially in pass protection. It’ll be how quickly can he catch up with that part.”
Crowell was a top-20 recruit in the 2026 cycle and the top-ranked running back. With last year’s leading rusher (Jam Miller) leaving for the NFL, Crowell has an opportunity to win immediate snaps in the Crimson Tide backfield. And with Alabama operating under a first-time starter at quarterback, whoever wins the RB1 job will have plenty of bites at the proverbial apple.
Alabama has not had a 1,000-yard rusher since 2021. A quarterback led the ground game in DeBoer’s first season at the helm. The run game collapsed entirely in DeBoer’s second season.
Crowell will be battling with Daniel Hill, Kevin Riley, and AK Dear for the lead job in fall camp. Alabama needs someone to run away with it.
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.
