Ryan Grubb is 'really happy' with Alabama running back room, Daniel Hill's development

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama exits spring practice with six scholarship running backs.

All six are not likely to receive meaningful carries this fall. First-year offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb was asked if there is an ideal number of backs he would like to game plan around.

“I think last year’s squad would probably tell you six ain’t enough,” Grubb said. “Running back is a tough position, and that’s a physical position to have to play every day. So I think the development of that spot, even when you feel really good about maybe your top 3-4 guys, you still know there’s an opportunity for the fifth guy. So I think developing the guys behind those top 3-4 is critical.”

But Grubb quickly added, “I feel really happy with where we’re at.”

Alabama welcomed back four players from last year’s team – Jam Miller, Richard Young, Daniel Hill and Kevin Riley – added a transfer, Dre’lyn Washington, and a true freshman, AK Dear.

Miller is the veteran in the Crimson Tide’s tailback room after running for 668 yards and seven touchdowns on 145 carries in 2024. The senior could have moved on to the NFL, but he elected to come back for a fourth and final season and will lead his position group in 2025.

“Obviously, Jam is the elder statesman in the room and certainly has the most experience,” Grubb said. “It was really good for me to see Jam the last couple of scrimmages when we were live. It was the first time I’d seen him out there breaking tackles and just kind of showcasing some of the things that he can do. He’s an extremely bright player, understands pass protection very well.”

With Justice Haynes entering the transfer portal, Alabama will have a new No. 2 running back this fall. Young makes the most sense as the next-most-experienced player at the position, and Grubb likes what he has seen from the 5-foot-11, 210-pound redshirt sophomore.

“Rich is a guy that’s played some ball here, as well,” Grubb said. “A different skillset, a little more just a straight-line, physical runner. But I was surprised, honestly, when Coach (Robert Gillespie) talked to me about Rich, how much pass protection was an issue as far as last year for him, just understanding schematically what was going on. 

“I think Rich put in a lot of time and really improved himself as a pass protector because it surprised me, honestly. When he said that, it kind of caught me off guard. I was like, ‘Wow, I feel like Rich has done a good job of being dialed.’”

Grubb mentioned the top 3-4 at the position, and one player who has made an impressive push for that grouping is Hill. The now-sophomore played in nine games as a rookie in 2024 and ran for 61 yards and a touchdown on 21 attempts. The biggest back on Alabama’s roster at 6-foot-1, 242 pounds, Hill has turned heads this spring as he looks for a larger role.

“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.”

Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer echoed Grubb’s praise of Hill following spring camp.

“I was really excited to see Daniel,” DeBoer said. “Last fall, and even still into the spring, he was a little bit hampered with some tweaks and injuries and stuff. He’ll end up being a really good one for us. We know that. 

“I felt like there was just enough that you could see last fall where you’ve got just those instinctual things and running and cutting and things you expect out of a tailback, but just some subtle things that a 240, 245-pound guy doesn’t do as easy as he does. And then even catching the ball out of the backfield, just natural that way. 

“He had some runs when we were in live sessions where, whether he was bouncing off of them, I think it was more of them bouncing off of him. That was really exciting to see. And he’s really developing a mindset, trust and belief in himself, and that’s carried out through the rest of the team. So he had a really good spring, for sure.”

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