Jam Miller and Justice Haynes got off to a blistering start Saturday as Alabama football's latest running back duo combined 156 yards on only nine carries in a 63-0 win over Western Kentucky.

They're of similar size and skill, as UA coach Kalen DeBoer has noted, explosive if not imposing from a size standpoint. But there's a bigger, stronger back in the Alabama stable trying to work his way into more playing time: Daniel Hill (6-foot-1, 241 pounds), a freshman from Meridian, Mississippi, who offers a powerful, downhill running style that could become a nice complement to Miller and Haynes.

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"The vision for him is to be a guy that can move the pile, be the physical hammer and not the nail. … He's a guy who has the frame and size to look like some of those old-school Alabama running backs who can get downhill and move the pile," UA running backs coach Robert Gillespie said. "But he's also a guy with versatility. He was a quarterback in high school and has really good hands. He's not your typical downhill, bruising guy, but he's still got a way to go just from learning Xs and Os and how to play without the football."

Playing without the football at the running back position is code for being a more effective blocker. Gillespie said Hill's size and strength allows him to be effective in pass protection with less technique than smaller backs.

"He can be wrong. His technique doesn't have to be as sound as a Kevin Riley, because Kevin's a smaller guy who has to have technique as soon as he walks in the door," Gillespie said. "Whereas a bigger back can absorb some of that and still reset his hands and feet and make up for it. So that's what I'm seeing so far. His technique isn't there but he's a big, physical dude. It'll come, because he wants to be a good blocker."

Hill got nine carries, more than any other UA running back, against Western Kentucky, but managed only 29 yards behind a reserve offensive line. He's got more competition to deal with than just Miller and Haynes; redshirt freshman Richard Young, and the aforementioned Riley, a freshman from Tuscaloosa County, saw action against the Hilltoppers as well.

Hill, however, is Alabama's biggest back by a margin of 20 pounds or more.

And as the season continues, he could develop into the Crimson Tide's emergent option for short-yardage situations.

Hot seat update

Florida coach Billy Napier took aim at disgruntled Gator fans this week after an embarrassing loss to Miami, never a good omen for a college coach's job security. "If we can focus on those things and not necessarily what some guy in his basement is saying in rural Central Florida on social media, then we got a chance to get better," Napier said. Trouble is, even some guy in his basement knows bad football when he sees it.

Quotable

“If they want to pay me $2 million, I’ll be down there on Saturday and Sunday, I’ll play them twice, get four million and help our budget. They can beat our brains in for a couple million dollars, for sure." — Jacksonville State coach Rich Rodriguez on whether he'd like to schedule a game between JSU and Alabama.

Etc.

Matchup to watch on Saturday when Alabama takes on South Florida (6 p.m. CT, ESPN): Alabama OGs Tyler Booker and Jaeden Roberts vs USF DL Rashad Cheney, who is one of the top defensive linemen in the AAC. … Alabama will formally dedicate Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday with pregame and halftime ceremonies. … There are USF players from Alabama: DL Bernard Gooden (Montgomery), OL RJ Perry (Fairfield), DL Decarius Hawthorne (Birmingham).

Around the SEC

South Carolina's offensive line could well be the worst in the SEC. After a dismal showing in a narrow win over Old Dominion last week, it now faces Kentucky's Deone Walker, who Gamecocks coach Shane Beamer called a "game-wrecker." Expect one of two things from the preseason first-team All-SEC star: He'll either be double-teamed all day, or he'll feast on the USC line. Maybe both. … Ole Miss' Lane Kiffin and LSU's Brian Kelly can't seem to stop taking jabs at one another, the latest example coming with Kiffin trolling BK after the Tigers lost to Southern Cal. Oct. 12, when the Rebels visit LSU, can't get here fast enough. … Our SEC Spread Pick of the Week got off to a rocky start in Week 1, thanks to Georgia's dominance. This week, let's rebound with Tennessee minus-8 at N.C. State. Season: 0-1. All-time: 21-5-1.

Tuscaloosa News columnist Chase Goodbread is also the weekly co-host of Crimson Cover TV on WVUA-23. Reach him at cgoodbread@gannett.com. Follow on X.com @chasegoodbread.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: The Alabama football RB who can be 'the hammer, not the nail'