What does Ryan Grubb think the Alabama football running back room will look like in 2025?

Don’t expect to see too many changes within the Alabama football running back room under new offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb, but do expect to see changes as to who is leading the charge from the Crimson Tide’s backfield.

The Crimson Tide’s running game was led by quarterback Jalen Milroe last season, with 168 carries for 726 yards and 20 touchdowns to account for more than 35% of the team’s rush attempts and 32% of its rushing yards. Behind Milroe was Jam Miller, the 5-foot-10, 220-pound back with 145 carries for 668 yards and seven touchdowns.

With Milroe off to the NFL draft, Miller, now a senior, is ready to step into his new role within the Crimson Tide’s offense.

“I’m the veteran in the room now, and it’s time for me to step up and be a leader,” Miller said when speaking to reporters on Wednesday. “It carries not only in my group but the other teammates on defense and offense. This year is going to be a great year.’

A self-described aggressive play-caller, Grubb was officially named Crimson Tide offensive coordinator last month. Nick Sheridan, who served as Alabama’s offensive coordinator in 2024, is now co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

Grubb’s approach to the running back room, Miller said, is “pretty similar” to what the Crimson Tide has ran before. Grubb himself attested to that on Wednesday when speaking to the media.

“For us, we’re pretty wide as far as the type of runs that we run, just like we always have been,” Grubb said. “You’re going to see inside, outside zone, counter, power, pin, pull, fly, sweep, all the stuff we’ve always done. So I don’t think anything from that standpoint will change. But I think that you know the guys know that to win the late games and the playoffs and things like that, there has to be a mindset and demeanor that you got to be able to run the football.”

Looking at what Grubb has done in the past, his offenses have seemingly leaned towards a balanced use of multiple running backs. In fact, since 2017, Grub has coached five seasons with multiple running backs finishing the season with at least 100 carries. That will seemingly fit in well with Alabama, the Crimson Tide’s 2024 running back room averaging 10 or more rushing attempts per game that pass attempts last season.