Kalen DeBoer shares which position group has improved the most

Mark Ingram, Shaun Alexander, Derrick Henry. For almost any football program in America, any one of those names would be one of the two or three best players in team history. For Alabama, it’s just what they do. At least until the start of the 2020’s, that is. Even in the final years of the Nick Saban era, Alabama has struggled to run the ball as effectively as they had in years past.

The trend has since carried over into the Kalen DeBoer era, which is coming up on its third year in Tuscaloosa. Outside of Jalen Milroe in 2024, Alabama has yet to send a dynamic runner of the football onto the field. In 2024, reps were split for the most part between Justice Haynes and Jam Miller. In 2025, the backfield became even more diversified, with as many as three running backs splitting the carries throughout the season.

Alabama ranked second to last in the SEC last year when it came to rushing yards per game. Both fans and media members alike all agreed that the Alabama running game must improve to remain title contenders in 2026. Coach Kalen DeBoer has also echoed that sentiment throughout the course of the offseason. He backed it up by hiring a new offensive line coach in Adrian Klemm following the end of the season-ending loss to Indiana in the Rose Bowl.

But it won’t take just an improved offensive line, the same way it won’t take just an improved running back room. If Alabama wants to return to dominance when it comes to running the football, it’s going to take both halves of the run game.

DeBoer was asked which half of the run game made the most improvement throughout the duration of spring ball, and while he spoke highly of both the running backs and the tight end room, his answer was clear: “The offensive line is the area where I’ve seen us improving.”

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While he did mention his running back room earlier in his response, he was quick to mention that there are several guys not quite back to 100%, headlined by true freshman EJ Crowell, someone who has been deemed by many as the savior of the Alabama run game.

It’s going to be a total team effort if the Tide want to get back to rolling in the run game, but according to DeBoer, it starts with the big boys up front.

Taco Casa brings you our coverage of SEC Media Days 2026, live from Tampa, Florida.