Alabama Crimson Tide Football Fall Camp Preview: A championship run starts in the backfield

The Alabama Crimson Tide kicked off fall camp on Wednesday, signaling that football is oh-so close.

Yesterday saw us preview the WR position , with the Tide looking to surprise many on the perimeter.

But if Alabama is going to get back to the college football playoff , they are going to do it on the back of their offensive line and backfield, the latter of which we will be previewing today.

QBs

Jalen Milroe

The man that needs no introduction, Milroe is hoping to build off one of the most impressive in-season development periods you will ever see.

From being shaky in the Texas game to being benched ahead of USF, to bouncing all the way back to lead the Tide to an SEC Championship, Rose Bowl, and within a TD of the national championship, last year's rollercoaster has set him up for this year's stability.

Milroe has the chance to take a massive jump under the tutelage of one of the brightest offensive minds and best QB gurus in recent memory via HC Kalen DeBoer.

"He's [Milroe] got a skill set that is special," DeBoer said of Milroe at SEC Media Days. "With his arm, he can make you pay and he can make the throws, and I think he's continued to grow in that area, building confidence in himself, just tirelessly working with the receiving corps, actually all the skill players, just to be on the same page."

The Depth

Alabama's depth at the position is intriguing with Ty Simpson as the obvious backup to go along with Dylan Lonergan, and Austin Mack as third and fourth teamers. The latter are redshirt freshmen and Alabama fans hope they develop, but not at any point during the season.

Simpson appeared in multiple games last season but made no starts.

RBs

Justice Haynes

Haynes will have to beat out the next man on our list, but he can lead a backfield when analyzing his build, recruiting status, and what spring tape he put up in 2023. Kalen DeBoer may opt to go with the more experienced man from the jump, but it may not be long before Haynes is heading off one of the better backfields in the nation.

Jam Miller

Miller is the veteran of the group, as the junior is favored to start for the Tide when they kickoff against Western Kentucky in just one month on August 31st. He has a multifaceted skillset that could win over DeBoer and his staff, not to mention continuity with QB Jalen Milroe.

The Depth

Per usual at the capstone, the RB room is not only boasts quantity, but quality when analyzing how decorated many of the players were coming out of high school.

Richard Young, who caps off what could be a three-headed monster between him and our aforementioned backs, has the prowess to lead many other teams as their workhorse given his blue-chip pedigree.

Behind him are names like Daniel Hill, a true freshman who looks every bit as big as a pro back, and versatile run-pass options like Kevin Riley and JR Gardner.

Bottom Line

Alabama football has always adapted. During the early portion of the Nick Saban dynasty, the Capstone won on turning the ball over and bludgeoning teams on offense.

The past decade saw a shift to explosive passing attacks with QB and WR rooms that sent more than a few current NFL starters to the league.

And while that may be more of Kalen DeBoer's forte, he knows that to win in 2024 he has to play to his personnel. That means running with his stable of backs, extremely talented dual-threat passer, and of course, behind one of the best offensive lines in the country.

We'll see how it all works out starting in less than a month.

Related: Alabama fall camp kicked off with Kalen DeBoer talking 'upward trajectory' of five star freshman wide receiver