Robert Gillespie has a stable of running backs to coach in his fifth season at the University of Alabama, but the most physically imposing presence on the roster is ready to make a move.
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Alabama went to Meridian (Miss.) High School in the 2024 recruiting cycle and pulled in an impressive four-star. Daniel Hill was one of the most versatile backs in his class — despite suffering two injuries — playing quarterback, running back, and having soft hands in the receiving game. Nick Saban recruited him, but Hill played his freshman campaign under Kalen DeBoer as his head coach. He totaled 61 yards rushing and a touchdown on 21 carries in nine games, while also spending time on special teams. Hill improved his body in the spring and turned heads throughout practice. Ryan Grubb, Alabama’s new offensive coordinator, sees something in the second-year player that has him excited for the coming fall. The 6-foot-1, 242-pounder patterns his game after arguably the biggest legend in school history.
He has guys in front of him on the depth chart, yet Hill prides himself on being physical.
In Tuesday’s airing of “The Bama Standard show,” Hill unveiled Derrick Henry as the player he models himself after the most.
*Daniel Hill breaks down Derrick Henry as player he models himself after at the 31:31 mark
“The main person that I mirror myself as is Derrick Henry,” Hill said. “Just watching him from Alabama to the NFL, he is someone I can really mirror myself as, take things from his game, and put into mine.”
Hill wants to replicate Henry’s physicality in today’s college football at Alabama.
“I really take pride in being a physical running back,” Hill said. “To have the man in front of me fear I am coming, you have to have a plan to tackle me.”
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Henry, the 2015 Heisman Trophy winner, guided Alabama to a College Football Playoff National Championship that season with 2,219 rushing yards and 28 touchdowns.
Hill said the mindset for this Crimson Tide team is a national championship.
“The national championship is the No. 1 expectation for us,” he said. “We have to get back on the right path and do what we need to do to win the national championship.”
Henry was the primary back used in 2015 in Alabama’s push for a national title.
Hill has the same size, weight wise, that Henry had at the time. He could be used in short yardage or goal line situations, but Hill sees himself as an every down back. We will see what brand of physicality he will bring; nevertheless, Tide nation is pumped to see Hill assist the program to a national championship.
Stephen M. Smith is a senior analyst and writer for The Bama Standard. You can follow him on X via @CoachingMSmith.
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