Alabama running back set to see role expand

Alabama football’s running back, Daniel Hill is taking advantage of more opportunities to run the football as he recovers from a quad injury.

Hill led the Crimson Tide’s running back room in yards against Tennessee with 34 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown on seven carries. Those yards were huge for the Tide in the second half. The Mississippi native was just as effective in the Tide’s win over Missouri. He caught a crucial pass late for a touchdown to help the Tide escape with a win.

Alabama’s offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb was asked Monday do he feel Hill’s role is set to expand.

“I do,” Hill said. “We are a production-based business, and Daniel certainly did that in the game. I thought he brought a spark to the run game, some broken tackles, good vision, and patience in the screen game. Daniel is a kid we kind of been waiting for him to get healthy and show out some of the things he did this spring. It was excited to see him step up in that spot.”

Grubb has been complimentary of Hill for a long time now.

“Daniel has been a guy that, unfortunately, has been a little dinged up through the first part of the year,” Grubb said last week. “I don’t know if there was a guy who we were more optimistic about out of spring ball than Daniel. We’re hoping that that starts to show up a little bit more here and obviously take some of the load off of Jam. But he’s a really bright player. I know Daniel’s a guy that understands pressure pickups. He’s very good at pass protection. He’s got incredibly good hands. A lot of people probably don’t know that about Daniel, but he’s a good athlete. I mean, he’s like a state champion, 300 meter hurdle guy, like he’s kind of wild, some of the stuff he can do. So, we certainly trust him can do all of those things.”

Alabama fans can now get ready to see more of No. 4 in the near future.