Alabama football is expected to be pitted against an impressive group of running backs throughout the 2026 college football season.
Touchdown Alabama takes a look at the top groups the Tide will attempt to slow down:
No. 1 LSU
LSU has established one of the most experienced and talented running back rooms in the SEC for 2026. The spotlight will be on returner Caden Durham and Harlem Berry, while a few transfer portal additions will add some extra security.
Durham is returning to Baton Rouge for his junior year, and he’s looking to take the next step. After a standout freshman year in 2024, he led the Tigers in rushing with 504 yards, even while being somewhat limited due to an ankle injury last season.
LSU will also return its second-leading rusher in Harlem Berry, the former five-star and No. 1 running back in the class of 2025, who rushed for 491 yards and two touchdowns last season as a true freshman.
For further depth, the Tigers also added some guys with experience in Wisconsin transfer Dilin Jones, UCF transfer Stacy Gage, Charlotte transfer Rod Gainey Jr. and Utah transfer Raycine Guillory.
No. 2 Georgia
As a true freshman last season, Georgia’s Nate Frazier rushed for nearly 1,000 yards, leading the team in carries and yards. The Bulldogs are also returning freshman Chauncey Bowens, who backed Frazier up last season and recorded 526 yards himself.
Dowdell enters Athens after spending one season each with Oregon, Nebraska and Kentucky. Bell, a former four-star cornerback who committed to Notre Dame, made his way to Vanderbilt before finding himself with the Bulldogs.
Bell transitioned to wide receiver with the Commodores but has now switched to running back at Georgia. The Bulldogs will also have Bo Walker, who rushed for 100 yards on 22 carries as a freshman last season.
No. 3 Texas A&M
Rueben Owens II will return to College Station after leading Texas A&M on the ground last season, rushing for 639 yards and five touchdowns during the Aggies’ strong regular season run and College Football Playoff appearance.
Sophomore Jamarion Morrow and redshirt freshman Tiger Riden will also be available in the backfield. Though the pair combined for just over 200 yards last season, they still bring experience and strong potential.
Further down the depth chart sit incoming freshmen Carsyn Baker and KJ Edwards. Edwards ranked as the No. 3 running back in last year’s class, while Edwards sat a bit lower as a low four-star. This freshman duo will add great depth now and for the future.
HM. Florida State
Senior Texas transfer Tre Wisner will likely start alongside redshirt junior Samuel Singleton in Tallahassee. Wisner rushed almost 600 yards with the Longhorns last year, while Singleton recorded 360. The pair will give the Seminoles some valuable experience.
The No. 3 running back in the 2025 class, Ousmane Kromah, is also returning after running for over 400 yards as a freshman last season. He’ll have FAU transfer Gemari Sands and three-star incoming freshman Amari Thomas in the backfield with him as well.
