Prized 2025 EDGE talks return to Alabama, schedules official visit

Ohio-based EDGE Justin Hill visited Alabama twice last year. Hill camped at Bama in the summer, and later returned for their matchup with Texas on Sept. 9.

This past weekend, Hill returned to Bama for the first time this year for a multi-day stay in Tuscaloosa. He was maintaining consistent communication with the new staff over the past few months, but needed to see the new-look Alabama football program in person.

It’s safe to say that the Crimson Tide did not disappoint.

“Man, phenomenal,” Hill told BamaOnLine of his visit. “I had a great time, my family had a great time. They checked off boxes that I was skeptical about due to the new staff. It’s a great place to be at. The guys at the spring game were flying around. The team looks good. Coach DeBoer is a great guy.

“Really, I loved everything about Alabama. Obviously, Coach Saban retired, which I’m happy for him. He’s a legend, for sure. But I was just skeptical, and I’m happy I got down. Now, I’m at a point where they’re in my top four-ish schools. I’m enjoying being recruited by them, and I enjoyed my visit for sure.”

Hill, who was re-offered by Alabama on Jan. 31, told BOL in February that his mom is a “huge Bama fan,” and says she enjoyed the experience.

“Man, she loved it,” Hill said. “All 10s. She came back with a big ‘ole smile on her face, and that’s what it’s all about. I’m happy she enjoyed it.”

He also clarified that he was skeptical only in the sense that he had not met the new staff in person. One of his goals was seeing if he could be around this group of coaches every day for three-to-four years, with that box being checked over the weekend.

Elaborating on his spring game experience, Hill had high praise for how the team looked.

“They play physical with their hands and hand-eye coordination,” Hill said of the Wolf position players. “Attack and dominate the play before they start it. They were facilitating and communicating to the point where they were out there flying around, and it was smooth.

“I’m looking forward to how they look this year,” Hill continued. “The offense is obviously electric with a Heisman-caliber quarterback, and some receivers to look out for. Defense looks good. I’ve got nothing bad to say about the defense. The secondary looks good, the Wolf position, D-Law balling. So, I’m looking forward to it.”

With this trip under his belt, Hill has now scheduled an official visit to Alabama. He will be in T-Town once again from June 14-16.

Hill caught up with Alabama’s past, present at head coach

One of the highlights of Hill’s return to Alabama was seeing a familiar face in Nick Saban. At Saturday’s ceremony at Denny Chimes, Saban carved out a few minutes to catch up with Hill and his family.

“Coach Saban was there, and he walked down to a few of us recruits,” Hill said. “We had a nice conversation. I was happy that he remembered me on a first-name basis. He’s a guy who knows a lot of people and we’ve met in the past, but it was good to know that he still knew who I was, acknowledged me, spoke to me, and listened. A great guy.

“I really appreciated that. It’s good to know… he won’t remove himself from that facility,” Hill added. “He’s still on campus. He still has an office. It’s good to know that he’s still around.”

Justin Hill with Nick Saban on his mid-April visit to Alabama.

Hill also had an opportunity to meet new head coach Kalen DeBoer for the first time.

Over the weekend, the two had good conversations about football, what Bama can do for him, and how DeBoer’s adjustment to Tuscaloosa has been. DeBoer also informed Hill, the No. 7 EDGE in this recruiting cycle, that he’s a priority for Alabama.

“He basically was letting me know I’m one of Bama’s guys that they want,” Hill said of DeBoer’s message. “They reached out, and they’re extremely happy that I showed interest back. Just letting me know how they felt about me.”

A commitment date has been locked in by Justin Hill

Over the past few weeks, Hill has been in contact with position coach Christian Robinson. On Monday night, just a day after Hill got back home from his visit, Robinson was already back on the phone with him and seeing how things were going.

The No. 52 overall prospect in the nation was very impressed by his time with Robinson over the weekend.

“With Coach Christian Robinson, I’d love to play under him,” Hill said. “Great guy, super genuine. Good coach, passionate. He is really someone I would love to play under, and that’s why they’re so high for me. And that position, it’s super versatile and something I’d want to play at the next level.”

Robinson’s history as a player (four years at Georgia) and experience as a coach (over a decade coaching) stands out to Hill.

“I feel like he’s a good coach to have because he has that experience at that level,” Hill said. “He’s been coaching in the SEC, played in the SEC. So, he has all that type of stuff to where he can put me in the right place once I get on the field. He’s done it. He knows the cheat code, almost, because he’s done it.”

Looking ahead, Hill has scheduled a commitment date for July 3, which is his birthday. He will be finalizing the rest of his official visits over the next week or so.

Hill outlined the most important factors in his recruitment before a decision is made.

“Really, I’ve got three things,” Hill said. “Home vibes is one. Somewhere I can thrive in and like to play in because I enjoy and I love football. I’d never want to be in a situation where I’d have to dread getting up and having to practice… somewhere I see myself growing as a man and a player at.

“Trust and relationship with my coaching staff, and making sure we’re all in agreement. We’re all locked in, and there’s good communication between us about anything that needs to be brought up.

“And then development, which I know Alabama can do that with their first-round guys being put out almost every year. There will be one this year in Dallas Turner. I know I can thrive in that situation with them having a dominant defense, and it’s the standard over there.”

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