Now that Alabama’s basketball season has come to an unfortunate end following an impressive run to the Elite 8, attention can now shift back to spring football. Practices and scrimmages are well underway and a handful of newcomers have been shining throughout already.
Most of the attention in practices and the first scrimmage has been on the quarterback battle, but that won’t likely be resolved until late in the summer. So instead of focusing there, let’s dive into some of the most impressive new players that Alabama fans should familiarize themselves with as they could make instant impacts this fall.
Isaiah Horton, Transfer Wide Receiver
Isaiah Horton was originally a highly touted four star wide receiver back in the class of 2022 who Alabama was hoping to land that cycle. His recruiting battle came down to mostly the Crimson Tide, Tennessee, Florida, and Miami, but he inevitably landed with the Hurricanes.
Horton climbed his way up the depth chart and put together an impressive 2024 season, racking up over 600 yards and five touchdowns as Miami’s third receiver in a passing attack that spread significant targets around to five different players.
Horton transferred to Alabama this offseason and looks ready to put together the most impressive season of his career. He’s already finding ways to get open deep downfield and dominate in the red zone, scoring multiple touchdowns across practices and the scrimmage this past week (as you can see in the post below).
Thanks to Horton, Alabama should have one of the deepest wide receiver rooms in the country now. The Tide already return (now 18-year-old) Ryan Williams and grizzled veteran Germie Bernard; two shifty wide receivers who can create easy separation. At 6’4″, 210 pounds Horton will provide some much needed size and physicality on the perimeter that the offense lacked last season.
If he continues destroying the defense this offseason Alabama fans should expect him to see plenty of production this fall, perhaps operating as the team’s second leading receiver if all goes well.
Justin Hill, Freshman Linebacker
Justin Hill joined Kalen DeBoer’s star-studded Alabama 2025 recruiting class listed as a consensus Top 100 player and edge defender according to the recruiting services, but he is much more than that. At 6’3″, 240+ pounds he looks ready to plug and play in the “Wolf” position for Kane Wommack’s defense early on.
For fans unfamiliar that’s a hybrid edge rusher and outside linebacker role who can drop into coverage when called upon. It takes a versatile athlete to run it, and Hill is exactly that.
Hill has already been flashing in practices this spring, intercepting balls, forcing pressures, and playing smart. And he isn’t just starring on the field. He was also featured as a key “student athlete of the week” this past week too.
If he continues to thrive off the ball Hill could end up playing a variety of roles (and early) for Alabama. Hill’s early ascension, size, athleticism, and versatility to succeed in both pass rush situations and off the ball is quite reminiscent of the early Jihaad Campbell days.
