Alabama trending to land 4-star RB Daniel Hill

On Saturday, Meridian (Miss.) four-star running back Daniel Hill will reveal his college decision at the All-American Bowl in San Antonio.

Alabama, Mississippi State, South Carolina and Tennessee will all have hats on the table. Each of the four schools have had their respective momentum for Hill throughout his recruitment, but it’s the Crimson Tide that will head into the announcement as the favorite in the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine (RPM).

Hill has visited Tuscaloosa more than any other campus. Alabama wasn’t always considered the frontrunner for the 6-foot, 235-pounder, but On3 National Recruiting Analyst Sam Spiegelman logged a pick in favor of the Tide on Dec. 31. Mississippi State insider Paul Jones has since followed suit, giving Bama a 63.8% edge in the RPM as of Jan. 5.

Alabama grabbing the momentum for Hill at the right time

Going back to the summer, it was South Carolina that appeared to have a major lead for Hill. A commitment to the Gamecocks in August appeared imminent, but that date was called off.

Alabama, SC and Tennessee each battled for momentum throughout the fall, but it was Mississippi State that inserted itself into the conversation late upon the hiring of Jeff Lebby and a new staff in Starkville. Hill’s father played for the Bulldogs, making the option to stay in-state as a legacy recruit an enticing one.

Bama never relented, however. Tide RBs coach Robert Gillespie and the staff in T-Town continued to make Hill a priority and now appear to be in a good spot just with his announcement just 24 hours away.

“Honestly, I think everyone knows where I’m going, but I felt like I did enough trolling,” Hill told Spiegelman during Wednesday’s All-American Bowl practice.

… It wasn’t a hard decision. When it all came down to it, talking with my family and sorting everything out, we all came to a conclusion about whatever was the best fit for me and I think I made the right choice.”

Hill is the No. 188 overall prospect and No. 14 RB in the 2024 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He’s also the No. 5 player in Mississippi.

Crimson Tide ready for big weekend at the Alamodome

Alongside Hill, Daytona Beach (Fla.) Mainland four-star cornerback Zay Mincey is one of the many other prospects that’s also set to announce his decision. Alabama is also currently trending for the top-50 recruit, according to the On3 RPM.

“It’s great coaches, a great coaching staff all-around, and they’re just winners,” Mincey told Spiegelman of Alabama earlier this week. “It was great when Coach (Nick) Saban came out to the school. That was something that never happened at my school, and it showed seeing he cares to take enough time out of his day to come see me.”

Like Hill, Alabama hung around in Mincey’s recruitment, even though it wasn’t always considered a frontrunner. Now, Saban and the Tide look to be in a great spot to cap off their No. 2 recruiting class in the 2024 cycle by adding both blue-chippers.