Kalen DeBoer heaps praise on running back Jam Miller after fall camp scrimmage
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Kalen DeBoer knows it’s just the first scrimmage of fall camp and not a real game.
But the Alabama 2nd-year head coach also knows that every impression counts, and he wasn’t shy about sharing some heavy praise for senior running back Jam Miller when talking with reporters afterward.
“Yeah, I thought Jam started out really well. I thought the offensive line did a nice job creating some seams for Jam to hit. Got to the second level and broke a couple tackles. I thought it was one of the better showings I’ve seen Jam have in a scrimmage,” said DeBoer.
The 5-foot-10, 221-pound Texas native has been around the Alabama program for 4 years now, but Miller is still trying to prove himself. Last season, he had 668 yards rushing and 7 touchdowns, averaging 4.6 yards per carry in Kalen DeBoer’s first season at Alabama. Miller also showed some ability out of the backfield in 2024, catching 16 passes, including 1 touchdown.
Miller barely cracked 200 yards rushing during each of his first 2 seasons in Tuscaloosa, rushing for 201 yards in 2023 and 223 yards as a freshman in 2022. This fall, Miller could be primed for the kind of full breakout season that he’s still searching for. Saturday’s performance in the scrimmage served notice.
“I think Jam certainly had the best day, and that’s been consistent,” said DeBoer, comparing Miller to the rest of his running backs on Saturday.
There are still 3 weeks until Alabama opens the 2025 season at Florida State, so there’s more time to leave impressions and more time for Miller to show signs that this fall could be his time to shine.
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
