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Intriguing Alabama Running Back Believed to be a Hidden Gem
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- Intriguing Alabama Running Back Believed to be a Hidden Gem
(Gary Cosby Jr.-Imagn Images)
It's no secret what the Alabama Crimson Tide struggled with.
Running the ball, which is historically a strength in Tuscaloosa, was a total grind throughout the 2025 season.
With Bama-lifer Jam Miller moving onto the NFL, there's going to be several Crimson Tide running backs who are going to be vying for extended looks once the 2026 season kicks off.
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It stands to reason that Daniel Hill will be given every opportunity to claim the starting running back job.
While Miller recovered from multiple injuries throughout the season, it was Hill who became the bellcow for Kalen DeBoer's squad.
While Hill's efficiency numbers left room for improvement, he still emerged as Alabama's primary goal-line threat with six rushing touchdowns.
But make no mistake about it: this job isn't closed. In fact, there's one running back that may be an option if Hill doesn't run away with it.
Remember Kevin Riley?
The Northport native is a fascinating prospect, as he's not a bruiser, but possesses a shiftiness to his game that caught the eye of DeBoer two seasons ago.
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"Kevin is probably our shiftiest. Kind of the explosive guy on the roster."
It seemed as if Riley was going to get a chance to be an impact player at the start of last season. When it was clear that Richard Young fell out of favor from the coaching staff, Riley impressed by averaging 6.3 yards per carry in the first two weeks, and becoming a threat in the passing game.
Like the rest of Alabama's running backs, Riley struggled to maintain that early-season explosiveness. Then later on in the season, he suffered a broken jaw which ruined any chances of getting his game back in the most important stretch of the season.
With a fresh coat of paint, Riley is back up and running. And he's sort of the forgotten one in the room.
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While everyone is thinking about Hill, AK Dear, and freshman EJ Crowell, Riley is still here, and he may have a bigger role than most think.
At the very least, he would be a dynamic threat in the passing game, whether it be with checkdowns, ball screens, or play action concepts.
Given his speed and explosiveness after the catch, Riley poses as an intriguing weapon in DeBoer's arsenal for next season.
He may not have the hype train behind him, but he's still a valuable piece to a contending team. But maybe that's just the way Alabama likes it.
Subtle. Discreet. Unassuming.
Riley may not enter the season with the same level of attention as some of Alabama's other offensive weapons. But if he can recapture the explosiveness he flashed before his injury, he could become one of the biggest surprises on the Crimson Tide roster.
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