Being a freshman on Alabama’s football team is no walk in the park. Sure, you were a star in high school, but once you get to Tuscaloosa, you’re back at the bottom of the depth chart. That doesn’t mean freshies can’t see playing time though—just look at Ryan Williams and Zabien Brown, who started from day one last season.

Qua Russaw, now heading into his third season at Alabama, knows the struggle all too well. When he first arrived, he had big names like Dallas Turner and Chris Braswell ahead of him, so he ended up redshirting his first year. Fast forward to now, and Russaw is stepping into a leadership role and is looking to guide guys like freshman Justin Hill, who’s joining the team from Cincinnati.

Russaw’s advice to Hill is simple: keep working, stay consistent, and stay in the playbook. Hill’s in the same position Russaw was in when he first arrived—no guaranteed playing time but a lot of potential. There’s an opportunity for Hill to contribute as a true freshman, especially with the position opening up a bit with the departure of previous players like Que Robinson, Alabama’s top pass rusher last season.

Defensive coordinator Kane Wommack has been impressed by Hill’s maturity. He mentioned that Hill’s attitude and mindset are way ahead of where Wommack was at that age, and it’s clear Hill is eager to learn. Russaw and Hill have already been working together, and Russaw says Hill loves the grind and is all about getting better.

It’s still early for Hill, but with the right attitude and consistency, he could see significant playing time sooner rather than later.