Patience paying off for Alabama RB Jam Miller with recent role increase

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Prior to Alabama’s 2023 season, running back Jamarion Miller shortened his name from Jamarion to Jam on the team’s official roster. It wasn’t, however, a nickname he had as a kid but one that was started when he was being recruited by the Crimson Tide.

“Most people don’t know the right way to say my first name,” said Miller in his media room debut on Tuesday. “… So I just said, ‘I’m going to go with Jam.’”

Miller is now in his second year at Alabama, and his name is now one to remember.

He saw the most extensive playing time of his UA career on Saturday, at least from a first-team standpoint. Against LSU, the sophomore running back played a season-high 13 offensive snaps in the 42-28 victory, according to Pro Football Focus. Miller rushed for 17 yards on four carries with a long run of 10 yards and caught his first pass of the 2023 campaign.

What led to the recent uptick in usage for the young Crimson Tide runner?

“Jam has played really, really well all year long,” head coach Nick Saban said. “Jase (McClellan) has played a lot of football this year and is a little bit banged up, so those guys have gotten more reps in practice, so I wanted to give him and Roydell (Williams) a little more time in the game, and both guys came through and did a really good job.”

In the second quarter against the Tigers, Miller hauled in a lobbed pass from quarterback Jalen Milroe and took it 35 yards to the LSU 32-yard line. It marked Alabama’s second-longest gain in its Week 10 matchup and led to the Tide taking a 21-14 lead over the visiting Tigers.

Another key play by the Tyler, Texas, native came in the third quarter when he lined up behind Milroe in the yet-to-be-named “Tush Push” formation. But instead of Milroe keeping it on 3rd and 1 at his own  39, he handed the ball off to Miller, who moved the chains (10 yards).

“I was happy when that call came in,” Miller said. “We work on it in practice just about every day. When that time comes, if it’s like a third down and short, we have to use the best of it. As you could see in the game, we got that first down.”

Miller and tight end Robbie Ouzts have been behind Milroe in those short-yardage plays since the Crimson Tide implemented them and started going under center. Miller is on his left, Ouzts is on his right and Roydell Williams is deeper in the UA backfield for the final push.

It’s another way for Miller to get on the field, and he’s happy to fill any role asked of him.

“I’m going to do whatever I can for the team,” Miller said. “If my name gets called up, I’m going to go out there and make the best of it. It doesn’t matter if it’s Roydell, Jase, to the youngest, Justice Haynes or Richard Young, when our chance comes, we’ll go do what we have to do.”

Milroe echoed that by adding, “How he approaches the game is very important. He’s a really physical back, and he makes plays all throughout the field. That’s an important factor.”

Another way for a running back to see more snaps is to be sound in pass protection. In the last game, the 5-foot-10, 211-pound tailback finished with a pass-blocking grade of 75.2 percent, per PFF, which was the second-best on the team behind offensive guard Tyler Booker.

That has been a point of emphasis – and adjustment – for the former top-100 prospect.

“When I was in high school, my high school team really wasn’t as good in pass protection,” Miller said. “And when I got here, that’s when I really started to learn a lot about pass protection, reading the defense and everything. And when my name got called and I saw that play call to protect, I had to use the best of it.”

Jase McClellan and Williams have been Alabama’s top two backs all season and have received 86.7 percent of the handoffs in their senior seasons. But the last time out against LSU, Miller’s role seemed to increase, and he was ready for the opportunity by remaining patient.

“Only God knows when my time comes,” Miller said. “I just take a step back, let the older guys do what they’ve got to do. Whenever your name gets called up, you’ve got to be ready. You practice hard every day against the No. 1 defense in the country, and everybody knows when their time comes, they will do their best.”

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