Patience Paying Off for Alabama Sophomore Duo

Running back Jam Miller and wide receiver Kendrick Law have seen an increased role in the offense over the last few games.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — It's not easy to find playing time at Alabama as a young player. But it's not supposed to be easy. It's also not impossible. 

Look at Caleb Downs and Kadyn Proctor both starting since game one this season as true freshmen. Sometimes young players are forced up the depth chart earlier than expected because of injuries at their position. But sometimes it just takes patience. 

With Nick Saban consistently bringing in top recruiting classes at Alabama, almost every player in the class was the best at their high school and possibly the best in their state or at their position across the country. 

Crimson Tide sophomore wide receiver Kendrick Law explained by young players have to have patience when playing at Alabama.

"It’s most definitely part of the process of being here," Law said Tuesday. "You might come in and be the best, but you might not know what it takes to become the best. You might have the talent, but you don’t know the plays or anything. And then it might be vice versa. You might know the plays, but might not have the skillset that somebody else might have. It’s just taking it all and soaking it all in. Coming and being able to adapt to Coach Saban’s process and the stuff that has been built here.”

Even though he has made sparse appearances on offense over his first two seasons, Saban has often spoken highly of Law for his play on special teams. And Law's role on offense has continued to grow as the season goes along. 

"K-Law has been a significant player for us all year long, especially on special teams, and he’s had some role on offense," Saban said Monday. "We did expand that role a little bit. Guy’s a great competitor, a really hard worker. He has a skillset that, I think, can be utilized offensively, and I think we’re starting to use that."

In the win over LSU, Law was lined up in the backfield on several plays and finished the game with two catches for 25 yards. Law was lined up in the backfield for his first catch of the game, rolling out to catch a pass from Jalen Milroe that he took 16 yards. That reception sparked Alabama's first touchdown drive of the game. 

Another sophomore on offense saw an increased role in running back Jam Miller. He has mostly seen playing time late in games this season behind seniors Jase McClellan and Roydell Williams. But Miller played from the very first quarter on Saturday against the Tigers. 

"I just take a step back, let the older guys do what they gotta do," Miller said. "Know that when your name get’s called up, you gotta be ready. We practice hard every day against the No. 1 defense in the country. And everyone knows when their time comes, they’ve gotta do their best.”

He finished with four carries for 17 yards, but had other key moments throughout the game. Miller was a lead blocker on the Milroe tush push that scored the Tide's second touchdown. He also had a big third-down conversion in the second quarter when he took a wheel route 33 yards into LSU territory that kept the drive alive and set up a touchdown.

On a team filled with talent, Law and Miller have been patient and found their niche in an Alabama offense that is improving week by week. Both have been team-first players, contributing on special teams and ready on offense when called on for the gameplan.

"Those two have done a great job with how hard they work," Milroe said about Miller and Law. "They're important factors of our offense and they're doing a really good job for us. Jam as a running back-- how he approaches the game is very important. He's really physical back and he makes plays all throughout the field and that's an important factor. Kendrick Law with how fast he is, physical and his mental and how he approaches the game is a big factor for us. Both of those guys are doing a good job." 

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