The Alabama Crimson Tide running back battle just got another layer of intrigue. Bruce Feldman released his annual Freaks List, and Alabama running back Daniel Hill checked in at No. 23 with a set of measurables that are difficult to wrap your head around for a player at his position.

Hill, who enters the 2026 season firmly in the mix to be the Crimson Tide’s starting tailback, now stands at 6-foot-1, 237 pounds after slimming down this offseason. He told media this spring that he overhauled his diet, cutting out junk food and committing to a leaner build. The early returns in camp suggest the work paid off. He looks faster, more explosive, and more decisive.

Daniel Hill’s testing numbers

But the numbers behind the ranking are where things get absurd:

– Bench press: 485 pounds – Power clean: 375 pounds – Vertical jump: 38 inches – Broad jump: 10-foot-4 – Squat: 800 pounds

Read that last one again. An 800-pound squat from a 237-pound running back who actually lost weight this offseason. Feldman also noted Hill’s background as a standout in the 110-meter dash and hurdles in the state of Mississippi, which speaks to the kind of explosive athleticism he brings to the table.

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What this means for Hill’s role in 2026

The truth is, there were moments last season where you watched Hill and thought he had the tools to be dominant but wasn’t fully utilizing his frame. He’d get to the hole and try to dance rather than impose his will. For a back built like that, the margin for error shrinks when you’re not running downhill.

Coming into 2026, that appears to be exactly what he’s focused on correcting. Hill has the kind of Derrick Henry-light frame that should allow him to be a north-south runner who punishes defenders at the point of attack. Put your head down, use that explosion, use that 800-pound squat strength, and bully people.

The fact that Hill is still only 20 years old makes his upside even more tantalizing. He has time to grow into a feature-back role, and if the leaner frame translates to the burst and physicality the numbers suggest, Alabama’s coaching staff will have a difficult decision on their hands at tailback, just like at quarterback.

The bigger picture in Alabama’s backfield

Hill’s placement at No. 23 on the Freaks List is a strong sign as camp continues, but it doesn’t guarantee him the starting job. The Crimson Tide have a legitimate competition brewing, and the coaching staff will let the rest of August sort it out. What Hill does have working in his favor is a rare combination of size, speed, and raw power that most college running backs simply cannot match.

The bottom line is this: if Daniel Hill commits to being the downhill, physical runner his body was built to be, he has every tool necessary to seize the starting role and not let go of it.