Alabama running back wants opponents to fear him as an every down back

Alabama football’s running back, Daniel Hill wants to continue to improve as a running back as he prepares for year two in Tuscaloosa.

Hill played in nine games as a true freshman last season, contributing on special teams and offense. He finished the season with 61 yards and one touchdown on 21 carries.

The Mississippi product is a bigger running back at 6-foot-1 and 242 pounds. He likes to mirror his game after former Alabama running back, Derrick Henry, and like Henry, he wants to instill fear in his opponent.

“How physical he (Henry) is,” Hill recently told “The Bama Standard” “That’s one thing I really take pride in, being a physical back and having a man in front of me fear that I’m coming. So, you have to have a plan when you tackle me.”

This mindset Hill is looking to run the football with in the future is something he is approaching with a new mindset.

“I feel like my mindset has changed from last year and then going through the season and going through the spring, my mindset has changed a lot,” said Hill. “And I really found the love that I have for football, for real. Because, I mean, I’ve always liked football, but I never felt like I actually loved it. But now I feel like I have a real deep love for the game, and I want to continue to do everything I can to help the team be successful.”

Alabama’s offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb felt Hill took a major step forward during the spring. Grubb highlighted Hill in his press conference after the Crimson Tide wrapped up spring practice.

“Daniel Hill, I thought was one of the guys that maybe stood out as much as anybody this spring,” Grubb said. “I thought he really did a nice job. Physical runner, very nimble for how big he is, can stick his foot in the ground and get vertical, excellent pass catcher out of the backfield, showed a lot of toughness throughout spring. I thought he really showed up quite a bit and improved as much as anybody out there.”