Alabama's running back room is beginning to look like a loaded toolbox — plenty of different tools, each capable of doing something different, but one currently sits closest to second-year offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb's reach. While Alabama's backfield remains highly competitive entering the 2026 season, Grubb's latest assessment offered a revealing glimpse into the pecking order beginning to form. He runs different; he’s got good agility, great command of the offense, super intelligent, excellent pass blocker. "Kevin Riley coming back from the broken jaw has put the weight on; he’s explosive with the football in his hands." That versatility could especially be important for an Alabama offense that is trying to resurrect a run game that struggled to consistently create production last season.