Alabama Crimson Tide running backs have been a mainstay in the NFL Draft each year, and in the 2026 cycle, senior Jamarion “Jam” Miller is the next man up for Kalen DeBoer’s squad. He’s been a modest producer, but career-best numbers could be coming.
What does Miller bring to the table at this stage, and where does he rank in an unsettled 2026 NFL Draft RB group? This film breakdown takes a look at some of his most defining traits, and puts together an early round and role projection for him in the pros.
Jam Miller Carries the Torch at RB for Storied Alabama Program
Few schools can boast the NFL track record that Alabama has at the RB position.
In the past decade alone, these Alabama running backs have all been drafted: Derrick Henry, Josh Jacobs, Jahmyr Gibbs, Najee Harris, Brian Robinson Jr., Damien Harris, Kenyan Drake, T.J. Yeldon, Jase McClellan, and Bo Scarbrough.
Miller could be next in line. As is the case with most Alabama signees, Miller distinguished himself at the high school level. At Tyler Legacy High School in Texas, he broke the program record for both career rushing yards (4,908) and career rushing touchdowns (65).
His final year at Tyler, Miller put up 1,406 yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground, while also logging 29 catches for 380 yards and six scores through the air. Ahead of that senior season, Miller had already committed to Texas, but Alabama won his interest late in the process, and he would ultimately flip his commitment in November.
The decision to play outside of his home state was no doubt difficult, but playing under Nick Saban and Alabama’s experienced coaching staff was worth the risk for Miller, and he relished the chance to compete in the SEC.
In both 2022 and 2023, Miller served as a part of the Crimson Tide rotation but was an ancillary presence in relation to Gibbs and McClellan. In 2024, he still shared the workload with Justice Haynes but put up career-best numbers with 145 carries for 668 yards and seven scores, as well as 16 catches for 155 yards and a TD.
Encased within Miller’s 2024 production report, there are reasons for both optimism and pessimism. Yes, he achieved career highs — but he also accrued 21% of his entire season’s output in one game against USF. Miller only eclipsed 50 yards or four yards per carry once each in the final 10 games.
He has talent and the pedigree, but to this point, Miller doesn’t have the proven production or efficiency. What do you do with a prospect like this? The short answer is: You look at the tape. The long answer? You’ll find it below.
Miller’s Deep Dive: How Does the Alabama RB Differentiate Himself?
Many of the desired physical tools are there with Miller. He’s 5’10”, but uniquely high cut with a powerful and explosive lower body. He came out of high school under 200 pounds, but has since built himself up to around 220, with high-quality compact mass.
In addition to his size, mass, and natural low center of gravity, Miller also has elite explosive athleticism and true long-strider speed. He ran an exceptional 10.71 100-meter dash in high school, and that track speed translates in a straight line.
The play below gives a good overview of Miller’s strengths as a runner. He has good processing speed when identifying contact threats, the high-end lateral explosion to offset in 1-on-1 situations, and pry through arm tackles and accelerate upfield when he has a gap.
Jamarion “Jam” Miller (#26) is a senior who’s never eclipsed 700 rushing yards or 200 receiving yards, but I really like his diagnostics.
5’10”, 220. High-cut with a low center of gravity. Long-strider with elite vertical and lateral burst. Can process contact threats quickly. pic.twitter.com/twCCOrjs2w
— Ian Cummings (@IC_Draft) June 19, 2025
Miller’s overall vision is more up and down, but that solid processing ability gives him the ability to react to and withstand early penetrators. And while his high-cut frame lends itself to moderate stiffness on sharper transitions, Miller also flashes the bend and lower body flexibility to supplement contact resistance.
This play communicates this especially well. Much like the previous play, there’s an early contact threat that Miller has to deal with. He’s able to square up and offset with his twitch and lateral explosion. And with his flexibility and leg action, he’s able to pry through, get upfield, and finish with a nice gain.
When he’s able to isolate 1-on-1 matchups in gaps or in space, Jamarion Miller can quickly square up and off-set, and he flashes really impressive bend and lower-body flexibility in the process.
Love how he pries through this arm tackle with that flexibility and turns upfield. pic.twitter.com/5k6GFm0Ein
— Ian Cummings (@IC_Draft) June 19, 2025
Miller’s surface-level profile as a runner is fairly easy to see. He’s an explosive, long-striding player who operates best with runways and seams to attack the defense. But he also has phase and role versatility that incorporates another element into his profile.
While Miller hasn’t been overly productive as a pass catcher to this point, the film reveals a pass-game versatility unexpressed on the stat sheet. He can line up out wide and off motions, as well as run routes out of the backfield.
The angle route below, in particular, reflects Miller’s stem IQ, quickness, and ability to catch in stride.
He’s only caught 21 passes for 227 yards in his 3-year college career, but Jam Miller was a productive HS pass-catcher, and I think he has the tools to be more than what the stat sheet conveys.
Excellent RZ route here, squaring up with fast feet and cutting the tight angle. pic.twitter.com/h28zTkaYzs
— Ian Cummings (@IC_Draft) June 19, 2025
But all of this begs the question: Miller is well-built, explosive on both the lateral and the vertical plane, and he’s versatile. Why has he not been more productive?
Alabama’s stacked RB room is only half an answer. In truth, there are some limitations to note.
As mentioned earlier, Miller does exhibit hip stiffness at times with his more high-cut frame, and the need to take gathered steps on sharper transitions can limit his creative upside. Additionally, while he has good innate processing speed, Miller isn’t an overly adaptable setup artist, and he can prematurely commit to faulty gaps.
The play below is a good example of this. This play comes in the red zone, so there is an element of “just punch it in” involved.
But even in short-yardage situations, running backs have to be adaptable. Here, there are gaps developing and readily available on the left side A-gap onward. But Miller simply charges forward into a wall, forgoing potential gains.
While Jamarion Miller has good processing speed, there are times on tape where he can prematurely commit to closing gaps, passing up open diversion opportunities elsewhere.
He has a TD waiting for him here if he adjusts his path to the left-side A-gap. pic.twitter.com/9XY54h5TsY
— Ian Cummings (@IC_Draft) June 19, 2025
When Miller prematurely commits or fails to assess preferable cutback lanes, the result can be a lot of meat left on the bone in best-case scenarios, and minimal gains in worst-case ones.
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On the play below — a gap run with a pulling tight end — Miller is at least able to make it to the second level. Yet, his nature as more of a one-speed runner carries him right past the decision point. He’s late to assess the wide open B-gap void, and he runs right into the path of the defender being sealed off by the right guard.
This play does a good job displaying some of the meat left on the bone when Jamarion Miller prematurely commits.
This time, it’s at the second level. There’s a huge void for him to run through, but he shrinks through a closing gap instead. Can improve this part of his vision. pic.twitter.com/yBUoRwwOkc
— Ian Cummings (@IC_Draft) June 19, 2025
It’s on these plays that Miller’s overall vision as a runner comes into question. He flashes the foundational processing speed to improve in this area, but his decision-making, footwork efficiency, and adaptability all need to improve for him to become a lead back.
But here’s the honest truth: Not all RBs become lead backs, and the more likely scenario is that Miller exists as a quality rotational back in the NFL.
The good news is, he has the pass-game versatility to excel in a rotational role, and that extends to his blocking as well. Miller is a venerable pass blocker who can also pave the way on the ground.
In 2023 and 2024, with Jalen Milroe under center as a common designed running threat, the Crimson Tide often used their running backs in lead-blocking and pulling roles. Miller not only fulfilled those roles but thrived in them, using his team-first mentality and relentless physicality to make a true impact.
We’ve become accustomed to seeing Alabama RBs in the NFL Draft mix, and I have no doubt Jamarion Miller’s rushing ability will get him there — but he also sets the tone in other ways.
Just *watch* his lead block here. He’s an ultimate competitor in every phase of the game. pic.twitter.com/DFLFl5as2B
— Ian Cummings (@IC_Draft) June 19, 2025
If there’s ever been a chance for Miller to prove he can be a lead back, the upcoming 2025 campaign is it. Haynes has transferred to Michigan, and underclassmen Richard Young is the biggest threat to Miller’s workload. Miller will get the first chance, but he needs to level up as a decision-maker and creator to convert.
Regardless of Miller’s 2025 outcome, however, he already profiles well as a mid-round RB with a dynamic explosive component as a change-of-pace back, actionable receiving utility, and the usage versatility to be a glue piece for the offense.