The Alabama Crimson Tide has landed its most important transfer portal commitment of the January window, securing former NC State running back Hollywood Smothers on Monday. The Charlotte native brings 939 rushing yards and six touchdowns from his 2025 campaign, production that Kalen DeBoer’s offense desperately lacked down the stretch.
Alabama Instantly Upgrades Running Game With Hollywood Smothers
Alabama’s ground game was truly awful during the 2025 season, and it ultimately cost them the SEC Championship and a shot at winning the national championship. While there’s still work to do this offseason, adding a slippery, explosive customer like Smothers is a massive step in the right direction.
The numbers paint a grim picture. Alabama averaged just 3.4 yards per carry and managed a combined 48 rushing yards over its final three games, including a dismal 23-yard performance in the Rose Bowl blowout against Indiana. The Crimson Tide averaged 104 rushing yards per game, essentially tied for last in the SEC.
Smothers represents a proven solution. The 5’11”, 195-pounder led the ACC with 85.4 rushing yards per game and earned First-Team All-ACC honors. Beyond his rushing production, he caught 37 passes for 189 yards and a touchdown, offering the dual-threat capability Alabama’s backfield sorely lacked.
MORE: NFL Draft Door Cracks Open for Ty Simpson in Unsettled QB Class
Smothers has drawn instant comparisons to former Alabama standout Jahmyr Gibbs, who also transferred from an ACC programme and transformed the Crimson Tide’s offensive attack. The parallel isn’t lost on Alabama fans who remember what Gibbs meant to the 2022 squad.
The timing proves crucial. Alabama loses Jam Miller and Dre Washington to eligibility exhaustion, while Richard Young officially entered the transfer portal. That left Daniel Hill, Kevin Riley, and AK Dear as the primary returning options, a group that showed flashes but never established consistency.
Smothers will be a redshirt junior in 2026 with two seasons of eligibility remaining, giving DeBoer a veteran presence alongside five-star freshman signee Ezavier Crowell. That combination of experience and upside could reshape what was Alabama’s most significant liability.
The question now turns to the offensive line, with as many as four starters potentially departing. Smothers doesn’t need massive running lanes to be effective; his elusiveness and vision create yards where others might find none, but even the most talented back requires some level of protection.
Yet this commitment signals intent. Alabama isn’t content to run it back with a struggling ground game. Smothers gives them a proven playmaker who can carry the load immediately.
