Why Alabama RB Daniel Hill is playing more snaps at this point in the season

Oct 18, 2025; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide running back Daniel Hill (4) celebrates a play in the second half against the Tennessee Volunteers at Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby-USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images

In the last two weeks, Alabama football’s Daniel Hill has made an impact in the Crimson Tide’s wins over Missouri and Tennessee, and the sophomore running back has emerged as the featured back later in the fourth quarter, wearing down opposing defenses, scoring and finishing games strong.

When running back Jam Miller missed time earlier this year because of a collarbone injury, the entire Alabama running back room competed to be the one to take his place for the first three weeks of the season. Hill did not get much of an opportunity to show what he could do as he received a tiny portion of the snaps that would have gone to Miller.

Running backs like Richard Young and Kevin Riley carried the rock most of the time during Miller’s absence, leaving fans and media members questioning why someone with Hill’s size and athleticism was not getting a shot to be the lead back.

That question has finally been answered eight weeks into Alabama’s season.

“He’s been battling a quad injury, but the guy is a tough, tough player,” quarterback Ty Simpson said. “Gave us a spark. Rode him all the way. That’s why we scored that last touchdown. Super proud of him man.”

Earlier in week, offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb alluded to Hill having some sort of an injury early in the season, saying Hill had been “dinged up through the first part of the year”, but Simpson is the first to reveal that Hill was battling a quad injury.

This confirms that the uptick in offensive snaps for Hill is not random, and the 244-pounder’s role in Alabama’s offense could continue to grow over time.

The majority of his snaps have come in the fourth quarter, but Hill says he is ready for any opportunity no matter what quarter the game is in.

“Whenever my number’s called, I’m always gonna be ready for my opportunity,” Hill said. “If it’s first quarter, second quarter, third quarter, fourth quarter, whatever quarter it is, I’m gonna be ready.”

For now, Hill is the guy that the coaching staff turns to when the running game is not going in the first half, and head coach Kalen DeBoer’s post-game comments clarified why Hill got a chunk of carries in the second half.

“Daniel, I think had the hot hand in the second half, for sure,” DeBoer said. “It was great to see him do his thing.”

On Saturday night, Hill ran the ball seven times for 34 yards and a touchdown to put the game away. His mid-season emergence is no shock to those within the program, especially not to Ryan Williams.

“He’s a dog in that backfield, and we got a lot of great backs,” Williams said. “It was just his time, and he was in. He made the most of it. I’m super proud of him, and he’s a guy that going into this season I knew would have a year like he’s having so far, and he’s going to continue.”

Hill could have his number called next week against South Carolina if the ground game has a similarly quiet performance in the first two quarters like it did against Tennessee.