The 2 Alabama running backs the South Carolina staff has evaluated for years

A pair of Alabama football running backs have been on the mind of the South Carolina staff for years.

The Crimson Tide’s rushing attack has been a major part of Alabama’s success on offense through three games. 11 of the Tide’s offensive touchdowns have come on the ground, and three different Alabama running backs have rushed for more than 100 yards this season.

South Carolina’s head coach Shane Beamer is preparing the Gamecocks to take on the talented backfield.

“They’re good,” Beamer said. “I feel like they’re good every year. I mean, every year we’ve played them. I feel like they’ve had great running backs, so it would be Justice Haynes, Jam Miller, whoever we’ve played against at that position. And this year is no different.”

Beamer and his staff are really familiar with Daniel Hill and EJ Crowell. Hill was recruited heavily by the Gamecocks in high school, and Crowell is a former teammate of the Gamecocks’ freshman quarterback Landon Duckworth.

4-Star ATH Daniel Hill @d1danny3 takes the field for his first action of the season.

Hill recently pushed his commitment date back with Alabama, South Carolina, Tennessee and others in the mix for him. pic.twitter.com/8hvvZghUhp

— Justin Smith (@Jdsmith31Smith) August 25, 2023

“We recruited Daniel Hill heavily coming out of high school, so we know what he’s about as a player and really liked him,” Beamer said. “He’s playing some great football right now, 230 pounds, rugged, hard to bring down. But then the two freshmen are dynamic. Crowell was a teammate of Landon Duckworth, our freshman quarterback. So I remember last year we had an off week and I flew to Alabama for a Friday night game to watch Landon Duckworth, our quarterback play. But then to watch the running back on that field too, and find out he’s going to Alabama. I remember thinking, oh, crap, you know, this guy’s going to be a handful in college, and you’re seeing that as a freshman. So they’ve done a great job. They all complement each other. They’re doing a nice job and, you know, all parts of the offense, in my opinion, running the ball, pass protection, and catching the ball out of the backfield, and they can run you over, they can make you miss, and it certainly, you can’t just, you know, end your ad and prepare for one, you got to be ready for all three of them.”

Alabama will look to continue its success on the ground against South Carolina on Saturday.