It is easy for Alabama football fans to get riled up by David Pollack. The former Georgia Bulldog has never been good at disguising his dislike for all things Crimson. In a recent Instagram video, Pollack stated the 2025 Alabama Crimson Tide has weaknesses in pass rush and the running game.
Pollack did not disparage any of Alabama’s running backs. He implied Alabama did not produce enough yards through running backs last season. The implication is not wrong. Many Alabama fans agree, and most of those Crimson Tide fans don’t blame last season’s running backs. The most often cited reasons for Alabama’s limited running back success are questionable reads by Jalen Milroe and an offensive line that could not be counted on to provide a push.
In five out of 12 games last season, the yard-per-carry average for Jam Miller was three yards or less, including a woeful 1.6-yard average against Georgia. Justice Haynes was only slightly better, with five games at a 3.5-yard average or lower. Blame is also shared with last season’s play-calling, which emphasized the dual-threat ability of Jalen Milroe at the diminishment of other options.
Alabama Football 2025 Running Back Potential
The Crimson Tide running back position has no shortage of player options. Miller and Richard Young are expected to be the lead backs. Ak Dear and Kevin Riley were top-five ranked running backs in their recruiting cycles. Daniel Hill was a triple-threat high school star and at 244 lbs. is built to punish tacklers. Though 5’9″ transfer Dre Washington is another ‘power’ back with his last two seasons of college play producing a 6-plus-yard average carry.
Maybe the Crimson Tide does not have a potential First Team All-American at running back, but talent is abundant. Phil Steele ranks the position group as college football’s sixth-best and second-best among SEC teams, behind the Texas Longhorns.
Instead of complaining about Pollack, Alabama fans should celebrate what he said about Ty Simpson. He expressed strong confidence in Simpson stating, “There’s a reason he was one of the most highly recruited kids in the country and I don’t think sitting made him worse.”
Note: Alabama player stats provided by Sports Reference and rolltide.com
