Film Room: Deuce Alston II

Kentucky did not sign a high school running back in the 2025 high school recruiting cycle. Addressing the position was a must in the 2026 cycle. Position coach Jay Boulware has helped lock-in the first visitor of June.

Delvecchio “Deuce” Alston II became Kentucky’s sixth commitment in nine days on Wednesday when the Metro Birmingham tailback picked the Cats over Minnesota, Memphis, and South Florida just a few days after his official visit in Lexington wrapped up.

What has UK added to the running back room at the Joe Craft Football Training Facility? Alston is a slashing 200-pound tailback. Let’s roll the tape.

Feel and acceleration

On the junior tape, Hewitt-Trussville tailback Deuce Alston flashes both feel and acceleration as a rusher. The three-star prospect could be a tremendous fit in a zone scheme due his decisiveness and slashing style.

The ability to shift gears and flash contact balance stood out on film.

Deuce Alston flashes quick change of direction, can shift gears quickly, and has enough full stride foot speed to turn a 10-yard gain into a 25-yard gain. This is not a burner but the 200-pound tailback can create explosive plays. Alston takes sharp cuts (clip No. 2) and can hit the zone with acceleration.

Upon contact, the tailback likes to go to a spin move to create additional yards. You would like to see some more running behind his pads with a little more forward lean, but Alston shows very good balance (this is where the background as a state wrestling champ helps) and that can allow him to extend runs.

Alston shows suddenness and the ability to extend plays on tape. The high school tailback flashes an overall good feel for the position.

Size matters

Kentucky does seem to have a type at tailback. This program is always hunting for 200-plus pound tailbacks. Nebraska transfer Dante Dowdell is scheduled to fill that need for UK this season. Deuce Alston could be next in line.

The positional size at tailback matters for Kentucky but it is the other parts of Alston’s game that are enticing.

Alston’s slashing running style and ability to stick his foot in the ground and explode in any direction will be a clear translatable skill as he moves to the next level. This is a true zone back who can bounce runs to the outside or get north/south to take advantage of a crease created. Add in the contact balance and there is plenty to like even if there is not a ton of raw power shown on tape.

Deuce Alston’s ability to read, react, and go as a ballcarrier give him the potential to be a productive power conference rusher.