To reclaim the Crimson Tide's rushing dominance, Daniel Hill shed weight and refined his game under renowned running backs trainer Brad Lester, hoping to evolve into a dynamic RB1 for Alabama in 2025.
After a disappointing rushing season by Alabama standards, the Crimson Tide are looking for more production from their running back room in 2025.
Junior running back Daniel Hill saw an expanded role last season, and despite modest production, he earned the trust of Alabama's coaching staff.
Coming into this season, the belief is that the RB1 job is Hill’s to lose, while plenty of rushers like AK Dear, EJ Crowell and Khalifa Keith are hungry for the spot.
Last season, Hill thrived as a goal line back. With his 241 pound frame, he managed to use his body to generate six rushing touchdowns. But make no mistake, Hill is far from a finished product.
Averaging just 3.8 yards per carry last season, it was clear that he needed to improve his overall game. Which is why he called on Brad Lester, a former running back for Auburn, and one of the best trainers for running backs in the country.
Other backs that Lester has trained range from Cleveland Browns’ Quinshon Judkins, to Alabama legend, Najee Harris.
"If you look at him from a physical perspective, I mean, he looks like he has all the tools, all the intangibles: speed, power, the mindset of what Bama usually wants from their running backs,” Lester told Touchdown Alabama’s Justin Smith.
“I feel like Daniel has all of those things. The biggest thing that he did want to work on is his one-on-one moves, open-field moves, a little bit of change of direction. But I mean, here after the first few sessions. I mean, he’s looked sharper and sharper each time he’s worked on something… There is no reason he shouldn’t be getting five to six yards a carry as he starts to wear on defenses and get in one-on-one situations.”
The open-field moves were certainly a weakness of Hill’s. One of his calling cards prior to last season was that he was deceptively speedy for a man his size. However, when you watch the tape, he still seemed a tad slow.
While working with Lester, he managed to shed 10 pounds and be more mindful of his diet in hopes that it would make a difference on the field.
Hill looked the part at times last season, but there was still some left to be desired.
With a full year under his belt, and an offseason of intense training, Hill has a chance to breathe life back into the Crimson Tide run game.
