Daniel Hill looks like Alabama football’s answer at running back, and he made that case loudly in the Crimson Tide’s SEC road win at Kentucky.
Hill piled up 104 rushing yards and a score on 18 carries, and when Alabama needed a short-yardage punch, the 6-foot-1, 234-pound back was usually the one taking the hit. The workload matched the moment. He was the hot hand, and Alabama rode it.
“Daniel has come in and nothing has been given to him, and he earned every carry he got in the football game,” Alabama offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb said.
That doesn’t mean the Crimson Tide are locking the room down around Hill alone. Kalen DeBoer said Alabama still wants to keep developing freshmen EJ Crowell and Trae'shawn Brown, and both got opportunities against Kentucky. Brown and Crowell combined for 39 yards and two scores on eight carries.
DeBoer also pointed to another name that could complicate the picture soon: AK Dear. Dear is “making good progress” as he comes back from a lower-body injury, and his return would tighten the competition for snaps even more, possibly as soon as the Florida State game.
“These guys are highly talented guys, extremely explosive,” DeBoer said. “AK (Dear) added to the mix, it will get a little harder in that room to get on the football field. But they're all guys we have confidence in.”
What stands out with Hill, though, is how he’s won over the staff. Grubb credited his footwork, his attention to the read and the way he gets downhill with purpose, keeping his shoulders square and “running a guy over.”
DeBoer, meanwhile, pointed to Hill’s path to this moment. Hill is the same player who sat with Crowell after he arrived, even though the two were competing for carries, and helped him work through the offense.
“He's earned every carry he's gotten,” DeBoer said. “He's worked hard for it.
I'm excited, I'm happy for his success, because he's worked and stayed the course. He could've gotten down a year ago.
He's back this year doing the things you need to show. It's good to see.
He's one of the guys that's improved the most on the football team.”
In Other News...
Alabama Had An Unexpected Game Problem While Trying To Settle Keelon Russell
During the third quarter against Kentucky, Alabama hit an unexpected snag while trying to settle in Keelon Russell, as the helmet communication link between the quarterback and offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb went out. It was the sort of disruption teams prepare for but rarely want to test in real time, especially with a young quarterback still finding his rhythm in a live game.
Russell said the Tide had practiced for that kind of situation and were able to shift to sideline commands without losing control of the offense. Alabama kept rolling anyway, finishing off a 45-17 win, and the episode offered a small reminder that even in a lopsided game, the details of communication can still matter. [Read more 🡒]
Alabamas Backfield Picture Is Finally Starting To Get More Interesting
Alabamas SEC opener offered the clearest look yet at how the backfield is starting to sort itself out. Daniel Hill was on the field for 42 of 59 snaps and handled 18 carries for 104 yards, giving the Tide a steady lead option as the staff leaned more heavily on him than it had earlier in the season. Behind him, the rotation stayed wide open, with freshmen Trae'shawn Brown and EJ Crowell getting limited work and Kevin Riley seeing only a few snaps.
AK Dear remained out because of injury, which keeps another layer of uncertainty in play for a group that has already shown both upside and inconsistency through two games. Alabama has had its share of productive runs and touchdowns, but negative plays have also chipped away at the overall efficiency, so the next question is whether Hills workload becomes a one-game adjustment or the first sign of a more settled pecking order. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State's Latest Shakeup Comes Right Before Alabama
Florida State made a notable leadership change just days before its meeting with Alabama, announcing that Michael Alford is no longer the athletics director after four years on the job. Bruce Warwick will handle the role in the interim as the school begins the search for a permanent replacement, adding another layer of uncertainty around a program already under scrutiny.
The timing matters because the Seminoles are trying to steady themselves amid concerns about the football programs recent performance under Mike Norvell. With Alabama looming, the administrative shakeup only adds to the sense that Florida State is entering a critical stretch with plenty still unresolved around the direction of the program. [Read more 🡒]