Kalen DeBoer details what transfer Dre Washington provides to Alabama RB room
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama’s running back room in 2025 will look quite similar to how it looked in 2024.
Four of the Crimson Tide’s five running backs on last year’s roster return: Jam Miller, Richard Young, Daniel Hill and Kevin Riley. Though it lost Justice Haynes to the transfer portal, it also made two additions in freshman AK Dear and a transfer from Louisiana in Dre Washington.
Washington had 73 carries for 478 yards and five touchdowns last season for the Ragin’ Cajuns, while also catching six passes for 107 yards and a touchdown over 11 games.
Following Alabama’s fourth spring practice on Monday morning, Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer discussed what Washington can bring to the offense:
“Dre, I think he’s a combination of all the guys,” DeBoer said. “Kevin’s probably our shiftiest, the explosive kind of guy on the roster. Dre’s compact, much like you’d see with Daniel and Rich, but he’s got some shiftiness to him. I like his mindset, he comes here ready to work, knows he’s got a lot to learn, and focused on what he can control.”
Washington is a nice addition that will compete for the backup job, as Miller will undoubtedly start with the most returning experience. Last season Miller carried the ball 145 times for 668 yards and seven touchdowns, leading Tide running backs in all statistics.
“We know what Jam can do, you all know as well. We’ve seen a lot of him,” DeBoer said. “He continues to work, whether it’s in the weight room here in the offseason, and just a new quarterback and doing his thing there. Most of the stuff is the same, but we’re doing a few things differently to fit him in the offense. Things that Coach (Ryan) Grubb brings, things that we just want to continue to evolve as we know our personnel better, know what Jam does really well.”
Top 10
- 1New
EA Sports CFB 26
Doubles pay to players in appearing in game
- 2Hot
Jay Bilas
Reveals his bracket, upsets
- 3Trending
Mel Kiper
Mock Draft 3.0
- 4
Ryan Williams
Trolls Auburn, reveals bracket
- 5
Hubert Davis
Responds to UNC controversy, critics
Get the On3 Top 10 to your inbox every morning
By clicking "Subscribe to Newsletter", I agree to On3's Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein.
Last season, Alabama’s leading rusher by carries, yards and touchdowns was quarterback Jalen Milroe. Milroe’s running ability led to a lack of consistent involvement from the running back room, but with him moving on to the NFL, DeBoer foresees a much higher usage rate in the future for his backs.
And he doesn’t believe that increase in usage will be a result of any changes to his offensive system of philosophy.
“You kind of think, ‘Well, the runs Jalen had just transfer over to running backs.’ But I think a lot of it was the style of offense, too,” DeBoer said. “To me, the runs go to the running backs, but there also might be a few more pass attempts that you have. The play action game gets opened up with more handoffs to the tailback. I see a lot of that developing right now with the play action game, because there are more carries that the running backs have.
“The system is the same, the concepts are the same, it’s just the direction you call more plays when it comes to the style of runs, which are definitely more tailback oriented than we saw a year ago.”
Not a member, Alabama fans? Join BOL today!
Have you subscribed to BamaOnLine.com yet? You can sign up for ONE MONTH of premium access to our Alabama coverage for just $11.99! Be able to read all of BOL’s premium articles and nuggets covering Alabama sports and recruiting and also join thousands of other Crimson Tide fans around the globe on the BOL Round Table message board! CLICK HERE!
