Alabama Adding Two Offensive Weapons Back for South Carolina

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- The Alabama Crimson Tide will get back two offensive weapons when it hosts the South Carolina Gamecocks this weekend, with head coach Kalen DeBoer telling reporters on Monday that both running back AK Dear and wide receiver Noah Rogers "will be available" for this Saturday's contest against South Carolina.

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"AK and Noah will be available, and again, just really progressing well in practice," DeBoer told reporters on Monday. "Just being comfortable with them out there and the reps that they need to be able to go out there at a high level. A little bit is them and how they feel, and also a little bit with the reps that they can get to where they can go execute. We’ve got some other guys that are in those positions right now that are getting the job done.

"No doubt that these guys can come in and help us, but they need to get them to a level where they can fly around and do their thing as well. So we're excited to have them back. We'll see the reps that they're getting out there. I feel like they're getting more and more confident just with their injuries and return over the last couple weeks, for sure."

Dear, a former five-star running back from Quitman, Mississippi, has yet to make his debut in his sophomore campaign for the Crimson Tide, but was close to playing last weekend against Florida State. As a freshman last season, he carried the ball 19 times for 140 yards and three touchdowns. He was having an explosive fall camp for Alabama and looked to be poised for starting reps before suffering an injury during Alabama's first scrimmage of fall camp that has kept him out for the Tide's first three games of the season.

Noah Rogers transferred to Alabama after two seasons at NC State, where he accumulated 68 receptions for 919 yards and three scores with the Wolfpack. He was having a stellar spring practice before suffering a knee injury during Alabama's annual A-Day scrimmage in April. Rogers is well ahead of his recovery timeline, and his addition back to the wide receiver room adds more depth to a receiving corps that is beginning to emerge with Ryan Coleman-Williams, Lotzeir Brooks, and Rico Scott. Cederian Morgan caught his first career pass and touchdown last weekend against Florida State, and Derek Meadows has been a reliable weapon when he sees targets on the field.

DeBoer also provided notable injury and availability notes for other players:

• RB Daniel Hill did not finish Saturday's win over Florida State. He's expected to be good to go against South Carolina.
• Same with RB EJ Crowell, who left the game after his second hurdle of the evening. He's expected to be ready for Saturday.
• LB Cayden Jones is out for the remainder of the season.
• OL Chris Booker has been dismissed from the team.

No. 8 Alabama will host South Carolina on Saturday, September 26, in Bryant-Denny Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. on ESPN.

Wyatt Fulton is the Tide 100.9 DME and Brand Manager, primarily covering Alabama Crimson Tide football and men's basketball. For more Crimson Tide coverage, follow Wyatt on X (Formerly known as Twitter) at @FultonW_.