Former North Carolina State tailback Daylan “Hollywood” Smothers committed to Alabama on Monday, per a report from On3.
The sophomore from Charlotte spent the last two seasons with the Wolfpack and had a career year in 2025. Smothers amassed 939 yards and six touchdowns on the ground, earning him first-team All-ACC honors.
During his recruitment, On3 recruiting expert Charles Power called Smothers a “productive rusher with a well-rounded skillset.” He also said that Smothers is a “tough runner” who “reads his blocks and shows vision in working to the second level.”
Smothers spent the 2023 season with the Oklahoma Sooners, rushing for just 43 yards in his first year of college football.
Adding Smothers is a key addition for the Crimson Tide as the team’s ground attack was a nightmare in 2025, ranking 123rd in the country in rushing. During the season, offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb said that he and the staff used “all” strategies in an attempt to fix the run game.
Alabama averaged just 104.1 rushing yards per game in 2025 and only had one game that featured a 100-yard rusher (Jam Miller versus Vanderbilt). Smothers had four such games last year, with his best performance coming against rival Wake Forest on Sept. 11 with 164 yards.
Smothers is the first of potentially many instant-impact players that could portal their way to Tuscaloosa during this cycle. Players have until Jan. 16 to enter the transfer portal in what will be the only transfer window.
