OLB Justin Hill committed to Ohio State, Oregon, USC to Alabama

Alabama beat out finalists Ohio State, Oregon and USC to secure a commitment from four-star outside linebacker Justin Hill on Wednesday afternoon, landing the 86th-ranked prospect in the 2025 ESPN 300 as coach Kallen DeBoer assembled his inaugural class in Tuscaloosa.

Hill, a 6-foot-3 defender, announced his decision at a ceremony at Winton Woods High School in Cincinnati. According to the ESPN rankings, he is the No. 4 prospect in the state of Ohio in the Class of 2025 and the No. 10 outside linebacker this cycle.

With Hill’s commitment, the Crimson Tide has added 12 commitments since June 1. DeBoer’s first recruiting class featured 15 ESPN 300 commits and seven top-100 prospects. Hill ranks as the second-highest rated defender committed to the Crimson Tide this cycle behind only linebacker Darrell Johnson (No. 34 overall) in a defensive class that features the commitments of outside linebackers Dawson Merritt (No. 15 OLB) and Jayden Harmon. (No. 19), cornerback Chuck McDonald III (No. 14 CB), inside linebacker Abdual Sanders Jr. (No. 2 ILB) and defensive tackle Antonio Coleman (No. 16 DT).

Alabama initially offered Hill under Nick Saban in June 2023 after Hill tallied 42 tackles and 5.5 sacks in his second season at Winton Woods. His sack total ballooned to 13 with 36 total tackles in his junior campaign before a spring recruiting slate that included unofficial trips to Miami and Alabama before official visits to Ohio State, USC, Alabama and Oregon.

With a long wingspan and track speed, Hill plays multiple positions throughout the Winton Woods defense. His junior season sack totals reflect a keen pass-rush ability, and the rangy defender is comfortable at both the outside and inside linebacker spots. At Alabama, Hill will provide defensive coordinator Ken Womack with a player capable of filling multiple roles when he arrives on campus in 2025.

Hours after Hill’s commitment, the Crimson Tide lost a 2025 commitment from athlete Jaimere Smith, the 138th-ranked prospect on the ESPN 300. Smith, the No. 10 athlete in the 2025 class, had been committed to Alabama since early March. Before pulling his commitment, Smith was the 10th-ranked prospect in the Crimson Tide class.