EJ Crowell Returns to Form as Fall Camp Starts

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Former five-star running back EJ Crowell was back on the practice field for the Crimson Tide on Wednesday as Alabama opened fall camp. Head coach Kalen DeBoer shared what he thought of the Jackson, Alabama, native, who missed most of spring practice with a lower-body injury.

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"He did some nice things. It’s good to see him out there, flying around," DeBoer said on Wednesday. "A couple times, you see what you saw from his high school highlight film. Excited to see him. We’re not in pads right now, so a lot of that is yet to be seen. But just execution, he’s got to catch the ball well. I think he’s got a really good head on his shoulders from what we’ve seen so far and being able to be consistent that way, learn the offense.

“When he gets in there in rotation with the running backs, like he was today, he did his job.”

Crowell won Mr. Football in Alabama as a senior after reclassifying to the 2026 recruiting class, rushing for 2,632 yards and 35 touchdowns in 14 games in his final season of high school football. He enrolled at Alabama last spring, but missed much of spring practice with a right calf injury. Despite the limitations, expectations remain high for Crowell in his freshman season to bring electricity to a run game that struggled last season.

Alabama will return to the practice field on Thursday, August 6, and is set to open the 2026 season at home against East Carolina on Saturday, September 5.

Wyatt Fulton is the Tide 100.9 DME and Brand Manager, primarily covering Alabama Crimson Tide football and men's basketball. For more Crimson Tide coverage, follow Wyatt on X (Formerly known as Twitter) at @FultonW_.