EJ Crowell's Breakout Season As Alabama's True Freshman

TUSCALOOSA, Ala.-- Offensive Coordinator Ryan Grubb spoke to the media Monday morning following the Tide's 33-point win on Saturday over the Mississippi State Bulldogs. Alabama has proven through five weeks that the run game is back, averaging 186.4 yards per game on the ground, compared to last season's 104.1 rushing yards per game. Alabama has been rolling with Daniel Hill as the RB1 to open games, but freshman running backs EJ Crowell and Trae'shawn Brown have quickly emerged as superstars for the Tide.

Alabama has three players with over 200 rushing yards through the first five weeks of the season, with true freshman RB EJ Crowell standing out with 26 carries for 204 yards and three scores on the ground while averaging 7.8 yards per carry. The Tide brought out a true version of I Formation, which OC Ryan Grubb was very excited about.

"Yeah. C'mon. Talk to me. How awesome was that?"

Grubb was also asked how EJ can be of more use to the Tide in the ground game, where he responded with

"That was a nice way to ask that question. Appreciate that. How do we get EJ the ball more? EJ's still growing into the game plans, and there's parts that can be difficult at times to have him on the field when he doesn't have the whole offense down, but he's getting there, and he's fighting his tail off to learn. And that's as big a part as anything because he is obviously wildly effective when the ball's in his hand. I thought this last week, honestly, he did a really good job on pass protection and practice, and it has really come around to where we can trust him in that regard, and that helps getting him in the football game. But he's a special player, and he's growing every week, so we certainly will continue to make him a bigger part of the offense."

The Crimson Tide will take on the Georgia Bulldogs this Saturday at 6:30 pm on ABC.

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