Pre-Spring Position Preview: Breaking down the Alabama RBs

A closer look at the Alabama running backs ahead of spring football practice

Before we know it, new Alabama head football coach Kalen DeBoer will hit the practice field with his Crimson Tide players for the first time when spring practice gets underway in March.

With the retirement of the legendary Nick Saban, there have not been this many question marks surrounding the football program since 2007 when Saban took over.

Contrary to popular belief, Alabama still has one of the most talented rosters in the country and should be right in the thick of the college football playoff conversation.

As the anticipation builds leading up to spring practice, Roll Tide Wire will preview each position group. We have already looked at the quarterbacks, now we will move on to the running backs.

Alabama’s depth at RB could be key to success in 2024

Depth at running back won’t be an issue for Kalen DeBoer and Alabama in 2024

What an offseason it has been for the Alabama football program. Legendary head coach Nick Saban announced his retirement, Kalen DeBoer was brought in as his replacement, and we have seen the transfer portal give and take for the Crimson Tide.

Not that the storm is completely over or anything, but we do have a few moments to collect our breath and our thoughts as we start to look ahead to the 2024 season in Tuscaloosa.

Even with the roster turnover, Alabama remains extremely deep at most positions but you could make the argument that running back may be the deepest and could prove to be one of the keys to success for Coach DeBoer in year one at Alabama.

Let’s take a look at the loaded backfield for the Crimson Tide and what each player’s role could potentially be in 2024.

Alabama football countdown to kickoff: 25 days

We are now just 25 days away from the start of Alabama football’s 2023 season!

The Alabama Crimson Tide will take the field for the 2023 college football season in 25 days, as Middle Tennessee State visits Bryant Denny Stadium on Sept. 2.

Here at Roll Tide Wire, we will be counting down the days until Nick Saban and his team take the field.

With 25 days remaining we take a look at a former Tide linebacker that wore No. 25, [autotag]Rolando McClain[/autotag].

McClain was one of Coach Saban’s first prized recruits when he arrived in Tuscaloosa. McClain was a three-year starter for Alabama where he accumulated 274 tackles, 31.5 tackles for loss, eight sacks, and five interceptions.

Freshman defensive Jahlil Hurley and freshman running back Richard Young currently wear No. 25 for the Crimson Tide.

Rolando McClain’s Photo Gallery

Alabama football names its Student-Athletes of the Week

Ferguson, Young, and Holstein earn this week’s Student-Athletes of the Week!

We are currently right in the middle of the college football offseason, but with the SEC media days around the corner and recruiting news virtually around the clock, the content surrounding the Alabama Crimson Tide never ends.

On Thursday, Alabama released this week’s recipients of the Student-Athletes of the Week. Redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Terrence “TJ” Ferguson, freshman running back Richard Young, and freshman quarterback Eli Holstein each earned the honor this week.

While not a starter just yet, Ferguson is right in the mix for the left guard position with senior Darrian Dalcourt. Young joined the Tide this summer and although the backfield is loaded heading into 2023, I wouldn’t count out the five-star from making an impact this fall. Holstein is a quarterback with a ton of upside but will likely need a couple more years of development before he is ready to carry the Crimson Tide.

Congratulations to these young men for their outstanding work in the classroom and on the gridiron.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Stacey Blackwood on Twitter @Blackwood89.

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Alabama Football: 3 offensive freshmen who could breakout in 2023

These three offensive freshmen could have a breakout seasons for Alabama in 2023!

Despite being around two months away from the start of the 2023 college football season, it truly feels like it is just around the corner. Before you know it, Nick Saban and the Alabama football team will be taking the field inside Bryant-Denny Stadium to play the Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders on Sept. 2.

As we await the start of the season, it’s time to take a look at some of the players who could make an impact for the Crimson Tide this fall. Defensively, we have already looked at three veteran defenders to watch, as well as three freshman defenders. On the offensive side of the ball. we have looked at three veterans who could break out this season for the Tide, and now we will wrap this series up with three offensive freshmen who could become stars this fall.

Let’s roll!

WATCH: Alabama football summer enrollees officially move in

Watch as Keon Keeley, Yhonzae Pierre, Richard Young and the other summer enrollees arrive on campus!

[autotag]Nick Saban[/autotag] and the Alabama football program hauled in one of the most impressive recruiting classes of all time in the 2023 cycle. Most of the No. 1 ranked class enrolled early in January and participated in the spring football activities, including the annual A-Day game.

Still, a handful of the talented prospects and recent transfer additions are just now making their way into Tuscaloosa.

Keon Keeley, Yhonze Pierre, and Richard Young are a part of the group of players enrolling this summer.

On Tuesday afternoon, the official Twitter account of the Alabama football team released a short video celebrating “move-in day” with the summer enrollees.

Take a look!

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Stacey Blackwood on Twitter @Blackwood89.

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Remainder of Alabama’s No. 1 recruiting class set to arrive on campus this weekend

Remainder of Alabama’s No. 1 recruiting class set to arrive on campus this weekend!

Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide hauled in the top-ranked recruiting class in the 2023 cycle and it was also one of the most impressive classes of the Saban era.

Most of the historic class arrived in Tuscaloosa prior to the spring semester and was able to compete in spring practice and the annual A-Day game. However, there are a few guys that chose to delay their enrollment at Alabama and are now set to arrive over the next few days.

Also joining the team this weekend is the handful of recent transfer portal additions. Below is the list of players that are set to join the Tide soon!

Alabama RB Richard Young draws comparison to Josh Jacobs

Alabama freshman RB Richard Young is already being compared to former Crimson Tide standout Josh Jacobs.

Alabama football will see plenty of young, new faces see the field in 2023. One of them is true freshman running back Richard Young, who joins the team as a four-star prospect from Florida. Young is already drawing comparisons to former Crimson Tide star, Josh Jacobs.

ESPN’s Craig Haubert and Tom Luginbill decided to compile a list of the top 2023 recruits that could see the field in the upcoming season and find their respective player comparisons.

Jacobs was a standout for the Crimson Tide and broke out in the 2018 season. His strength and speed led to him being the first running back selected in the 2019 NFL draft.

Haubert and Luginbill see similarities in the two running backs. Despite Young having not yet played a down of college football, he’s expected to be a key contributor for the Crimson Tide’s offense over the next few seasons.

“Jacobs looked like a scat back early in his career but developed into more of a physical runner than people expected. He rushed for more than 2,000 yards, posting 21 touchdowns. He was never the feature back, but maybe the most important component of the offense during his tenure because of all the traits he possesses.

“Young is a feature back who is also effective in third-down situations. A slashing runner who can push the pile and has contact balance, he is a rare blend of power (5-11, 195) and suddenness. He may not possess elite top-end speed (he still ran a 10.8 100-meter in high school and consistently pulled away on long runs), however neither did Jacobs, who ran a 4.6 40 at the NFL combine.”

Roll Tide Wire will continue to cover Young and other Alabama players as the 2023 season approaches.

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Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow AJ Spurr on Twitter @SpurrFM.

2023 5-star RB Richard Young officially signs with Alabama

2023 five-star running back Richard Young signed his National Letter of Intent to Alabama on Wednesday. He was an instrumental recruiter for the Tide in the ’23 class as he helped land some of the nation’s top recruits.

Alabama may have signed the best 1-2 punch of any program in the country after signing five-stars Richard Young and Justice Haynes. Young put the pen to paper on Wednesday as he signed his national letter of intent to the Tide.

Young is the No. 48 overall recruit in the country on the 247Sports composite. He is listed as 5 feet, 11 inches and 200 pounds.

247Sports’ Andrew Ivins compared Young to former Arizona State running back Kalen Ballage. Young received more than 50 offers prior to announcing his commitment to Alabama in July. His addition to this class will surely show results in the years to come.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to cover Alabama football and the early signing period as more commits sign their national letters of intent.

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Alabama expected to land 5-star Notre Dame decommit Keon Keeley

2023 edge rusher Keon Keeley decommitted from Notre Dame on Tuesday. He has expressed heavy interest in the Crimson Tide.

Alabama has been intrigued with 2023 edge rusher Keon Keeley. Why? The Florida native made a trip to Tuscaloosa on July 30 for a team cookout. Since then, he has been an Alabama lean despite being verbally committed to Notre Dame for over a year.

Well, on Tuesday evening, Keeley announced via Twitter that he was decommitting from the Fighting Irish. Thus, it created a lot of speculation among recruiting experts. Since making the announcement, three lead experts for 247Sports have all put in crystal balls for Alabama.

It isn’t just the lead experts for 247Sports that believe he will eventually end up as a part of Alabama’s 2023 recruiting class. Alabama running back commit Richard Young tweeted several weeks ago about Keeley and the potential that he flips to Alabama. here is what Young had to say:

“Mark my words, I am going to flip Keon Keeley from  Notre Dame.”

Alabama fans seem to like their chances to land Keeley. The product of Berkeley Prep School already has the size to play in the SEC. He stands at 6-foot-6, 242 pounds, according to 247Sports. He has great versatility for an edge rusher, good lean, and a great burst off the edge. The Alabama coaching staff is going all out to land Keeley.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to monitor Keeley’s recruitment as well as other Alabama football recruiting news.

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