Why 2026 could be breakout year for Tuscaloosa native at running back

Sep 13, 2025; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide running back Kevin Riley (28) looks for an opening in the line of scrimmage during the second quarter against the Wisconsin Badgers at Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Leong-Imagn Images

The 2025 football season was a dramatically bad year on the ground for the Crimson Tide, with the team unable to secure at least 100 rushing yards in eight of the 15 games it played, and even finishing one game with -3 rushing yards.

But although there were struggles, there were still flashes of what could be in the future. Running back Kevin Riley gave fans many glimpses of the talent he holds, even though the latter half of his season was disrupted by a broken jaw.

Riley was a four-star recruit and originally committed to Miami. However, a big push from the Tide led the Tuscaloosa native to stay home for college.

As a redshirt freshman in 2025, he didn’t see much time on the field, only recording 30 yards on 10 carries between two games. But after a little more time to develop, Riley stepped it up and became a minor contributor as a sophomore.

Riley received 59 carries in 10 games, rushing for a total of 224 yards and two touchdowns, even making an impact through the air as well, catching 19 passes for 176 yards and a touchdown. When he was on the field, his presence was felt.

At 5-foot-11, 191 pounds, his play style and frame are similar to Jam Miller, who was the leading back for the Tide last season and is one inch shorter, but almost 30 pounds heavier. Still, they run the ball similarly with good vision, agility and toughness.

Had Riley seen significant playing time and carries throughout the entire season, he could’ve easily made a case to be listed further up the depth chart. But two things got in the way: injury and depth.

As aforementioned, Miller was the leading back for the Crimson Tide, so he received the majority of the carries. Sophomore Daniel Hill then surprised many people with his abilities, which earned him significant playing time behind Miller.

But through the first few games of the season, Miller was injured, leaving Alabama to find replacements as the season began. That’s primarily when Riley was receiving reps and making the most of them, averaging six yards per carry through two games.

However, as Miller made his return and got fully healthy, Riley’s reps were limited, which is understandable, to an extent. Depth is hard to compete with, especially when others have more experience fighting for reps of their own.

As good as Miller and Hill were, the Crimson Tide still struggled to run the ball. It always seemed as though Riley brought an aspect to the rush attack that the Tide was missing, though he never received the reps to produce anything later on.

But Riley showed what he was capable of; he displayed an ability to impact the game on the ground and through the air, but the coaching staff seemed almost completely to dismiss him after about four games into the season.

To make matters worse, when Riley was having one of his better games of the season since early in the campaign against FCS Eastern Illinois, a vicious hit in the fourth quarter broke his jaw, sidelining him for the Crimson Tide’s games against Auburn, Georgia in the SEC Championship and Oklahoma in the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal.

He finally made his return on Jan. 1 for Alabama’s matchup with No. 1 Indiana in the Rose Bowl, a game in which the Tide would lose by a score of 38-3, while Riley received three carries, which he took for just two yards.

Riley looked promising to begin the season, but the 2025 campaign proved to be more of another developmental year for the tailback. But now, he seems to be primed for a breakout year in which he’ll lead the running back room with Hill.

The Tide will also return redshirt freshman AK Dear, but will also introduce Appalachian State transfer Khalifa Keith, the No. 1-ranked running back out of high school, Ezavier Crowell and three-star Traeshawn Brown to the position room.

It’s now time for Riley to be a highlight of the depth that Alabama will have in the running back room for 2026, instead of sitting behind. He and Hill will hope to be the veterans in the room, leading and guiding the future at running back for Alabama.