'08 NJ ATH Will "The Thrill" Hill (Florida Verbal)

[Irish Envy]

Will Hill - S (6'3"/200lbs)
St. Peter's Prep School (Jersey City, NJ)

Will, nicknamed "The Thrill", is also a member of the St. Peter's Prep track team.

Schools of Interest:
Florida
Florida St.
Maryland
Michigan
Notre Dame
Ohio State
Penn State
Pitt
Rutgers
USC
UCLA
Va Tech

Combine
Forty: 4.4
Bench Reps:
Bench Max:
Squat Max:
Shuttle:
Vertical:
GPA:

Star Ratings
Rivals:
Scout:


Statistics
2004 - None Listed
2005 - 49 of 60 for 799 yards and 9 touchdowns. 64 carries for 533 yards and 2 scores. On defense, 56 tackles (22 solo) and 3 interceptions.
2006 - None Listed
2007 - None Listed

Accolades
2004 - All-State Third Team
2005 - All-State Third Team
2006 - None Listed
2007 - Rivals 100 to watch in '08

Multimedia
Bosco Denied
St. Peter's comeback nets first state title since 1994

 

[Irish Envy]

 

[Irish Envy]

This is for njirish over on Rivals as he is the guy the recommended this prospect to me.

 

[jsully84]

-Latest update from Scout has Will stating ND has offered him.

-He's close friends with Leo Ferrine &they train together ove the summer (Leo went to same high school as Will).

-Said that distance won't be a factor

-Wants to have a good education to fall back on if he doesn't make it to the NFL

 

[SillyIrish]

And the NJ pipeline will flow freely to SB again in 08.

 

[tinman]

Hopefully Will learned that it's better to be on the same team as Trattou.

 

[FROSH]

this kid is projected as the best player in New Jersey next year.

 

[tchris555]

maybe the best player in NJ this year. Thats why it was great to hear Trattou was terrorizing him and the rest of his team's backfield.

 

[brownkj002]

Most services put him as one on the best prospects for the 08 class regardless of position. It looks like CW got to him early which in great for ND.

 

[Ricochet]

this kid is projected as the best player in New Jersey next year.

No disrespect to our awesome NJ recruits but Will Hill is better than any of the NJ kids ND is bringing in with the '07 class. Will Hill is the best player in NJ now and he's going to have a top 10 overall ranking in the '08 class. He's in the same class athletically as Vick, Bush, Rocket, Deion Sanders. He's very dynamic player who can play just about anywhere but if he has the hands to play WR then thats were he should play IMO just because he's got the something, he has "it". He's got some good size, beyond freakish athletism, speed, quickness and that acrobatic ability that Randy Moss had.

 

[claynd105]

No disrespect to our awesome NJ recruits but Will Hill is better than any of the NJ kids ND is bringing in with the '07 class. Will Hill is the best player in NJ now and he's going to have a top 10 overall ranking in the '08 class. He's in the same class athletically as Vick, Bush, Rocket, Deion Sanders. He's very dynamic player who can play just about anywhere but if he has the hands to play WR then thats were he should play IMO just because he's got the something, he has "it". He's got some good size, beyond freakish athletism, speed, quickness and that acrobatic ability that Randy Moss had.

Calm down my friend. Those are some of the elite football athletes ever. This kid may be good but I will be very skeptical of your analysis until I am proven otherwise. No disrespect intended obviously.

 

[Ricochet]

Calm down my friend. Those are some of the elite football athletes ever. This kid may be good but I will be very skeptical of your analysis until I am proven otherwise. No disrespect intended obviously.

I know where you coming from and if it was the other way around between us and you were saying what I said I would think the same thing most likely. However, I'm not bull $hitting here, athletically he's at that level, if he's able to make that athletism work for him at the next levels is another thing. All I'm saying is that he has that super special athletism, not that he's going to be as good as any of them he has to become a good football player first and if he does that with his athletism, watch out.

 

[HeavenKnows]

If he is any where in the neighborhood of Randy Moss, sign me up. Moss is easily the best receiver to ever play. And Deon Sanders has no peers as a cover corner. I will have to see to believe, says Doubting Thomas.

 

[nayers]

If he is any where in the neighborhood of Randy Moss, sign me up. Moss is easily the best receiver to ever play.

I think Jerry Rice and Tim Brown would disagree...but back on point...where would this kid play...he is listed as CB, but 6-2 is huge for CB...we dont need any more QB's and if we get Floyd and Buckner, where does that leave him??? maybe in case Buckner goes to Texas, then he would be a backup plan.

 

[reneg]

I don't think Moss has done enough to clip Jerry Rice, Brown, or a lot of other receivers in respect to career numbers in the NFL. I am a die hard Raiders fan and Notre Dame fan, but Randy Moss has more talent than Tim Brown. Brown was amazing don't get me wrong one of my all-time favorite Irish and Raider greats, an extremely gifted player and a special person. Moss however talking from a play stand point is simply amazing, however his attitude is a different story.

 

[tedwick]

If he is any where in the neighborhood of Randy Moss, sign me up. Moss is easily the best receiver to ever play. And Deon Sanders has no peers as a cover corner. I will have to see to believe, says Doubting Thomas.

if he's anywhere in the neighborhood of Randy Moss, he's probably going to get shot.

 

[johnchampion]

He's listed at 6-2.
Isn't Randy Moss 6-5 or 6-6?

 

[Katzenboyer]

I think Jerry Rice and Tim Brown would disagree...but back on point...where would this kid play...he is listed as CB, but 6-2 is huge for CB...we dont need any more QB's and if we get Floyd and Buckner, where does that leave him??? maybe in case Buckner goes to Texas, then he would be a backup plan.

I was going to say the same thing. 6-2, 180? Not very good measurables for a CB. For a safety, maybe, but if he's an elite athlete, stick him at WR.

The good thing is that we won't be battling an in-state team for his services (unlike Filer, etc.), unless Schiano can pull another rabbit out of his hat.

Go get him!

 

[Ricochet]

I was going to say the same thing. 6-2, 180? Not very good measurables for a CB. For a safety, maybe, but if he's an elite athlete, stick him at WR.

The good thing is that we won't be battling an in-state team for his services (unlike Filer, etc.), unless Schiano can pull another rabbit out of his hat.

Go get him!

What? Not very good measurables for a CB, are you joking? Thats great size for a CB since most of them are 5'10/5'11 and 6'0 is considered a good size. 6'2 is a decent to good for S but it's very big for a CB.

I'm not sure what he is at the next level beyond being a elite superfreak athlete. Just get him to be South Bend and then let them figure out how he can best help the team. But what I do know is athletically he's as good as I've ever seen especially at his age however like I've tried to explain before thats all for not if he can't put it together at the next level and become more than an athlete. Just look at most of the best players of all time or even right now and it rare that the player with the best upside/highest ceiling ends up being the best players.

 

[UNTITLEDPROJECT]

Is he escaping Trattou in that fifth pic?

 

[PatND3]

Who cares what position he plays, as long as he is wearing blue and gold. I love that CW established a dominant presence this year in NJ, and hopefully he continues that next year by getting Hill. Hill might be a great prospect but Trattou did a good job of shutting him down in that championship game.

 

[Katzenboyer]

What? Not very good measurables for a CB, are you joking? Thats great size for a CB since most of them are 5'10/5'11 and 6'0 is considered a good size. 6'2 is a decent to good for S but it's very big for a CB.

I'm not sure what he is at the next level beyond being a elite superfreak athlete. Just get him to be South Bend and then let them figure out how he can best help the team. But what I do know is athletically he's as good as I've ever seen especially at his age however like I've tried to explain before thats all for not if he can't put it together at the next level and become more than an athlete. Just look at most of the best players of all time or even right now and it rare that the player with the best upside/highest ceiling ends up being the best players.

To clarify -- his measurables at CB look good on paper. But that height usually doesn't translate well on the field.

Name me, off the top of your head, some dominating CBs in the NFL that are 6'2". It's been tried before (because everyone thinks that the CBs need to match up with WRs height), but it's not the most successful proposition in the world. Your best CBs are usually the guys who fall into the 5'10" to 6' range.

 

[Z-Bo]

@katzenboyer
I understand what you are saying, but You are committing a syllogism. Your best CBs are the ones who break on the ball and not the QB's pump fake, and can recover even when they don't get the best jam on the line of scrimmage, or get beaten by a move. recovering is key for teams that play man to man. not so much for cover 2.

 

[Katzenboyer]

@katzenboyer
I understand what you are saying, but You are committing a syllogism. Your best CBs are the ones who break on the ball and not the QB's pump fake, and can recover even when they don't get the best jam on the line of scrimmage, or get beaten by a move. recovering is key for teams that play man to man. not so much for cover 2.

The best CBs, period, are the ones that have the best "hips" -- basically a football term for a player who is fluid changing direction from back pedal to running forward, diagnol to diagnol, and side to side, while maintaining fluidity and a good center.

If at 6'2", the player can do that, then hell, put him at CB. I have no problems. I was just commenting on the fact that in terms of most of your "tall experiments" at CB, most have failed. There have been some successes, but most of your best corners are the guys who don't go up and over 6 feet by much.

 

[PatND3]

Isn't Antonio Cromartie a big guy?...and also didn't he play CB for FSU?...and he was a first round draft pick.

 

[irishdread]

Isn't Antonio Cromartie a big guy?...and also didn't he play CB for FSU?...and he was a first round draft pick.

So was Mike Rumph, a very physical and good cover corner, that used to play for the University of Miami. He was 6'1 and about 190 lbs. Its not about the size of the corner, its his ability to move his hips fast enough to turn and run with the WR.

 

[Pete]

Isn't Rumph a bust in the NFL?

 

[Z-Bo]

Isn't Rumph a bust in the NFL?

If only because of injuries. His rookie season he was far less than stellar, but that was his rookie season. His second year in the league he was an average NFL starting cornerback, which is all you can ask for from a 27th overall pick at CB. It just gives you an idea of how valuable great cover corners are, and how even NFL GMs will not drool over size when it comes to CBs. They will drool over "hips", which is what I meant when I said the ability to recover when beaten. Imo, the moment a WR makes a move, the CB is beaten, and has to recover, unless he BREAKS on the ball. The moment the CB makes a a break to defend the pass, he knows for certain he isn't beaten and it's just a matter of who is better coached and has more dexterity, the WR or the CB. I approach coverage as the WR isn't covered until the play is over and he doesn't have the ball.

 

[Z-Bo]

By the way, a small matter of "coverage skill" is also important. Chris Gamble of the Panthers has freakish size, and averages 6 or more interceptions per season. But he has no idea whatsoever about coverage skills, or how to cover somebody. This is why he slipped so far in the draft. GMs referred to him as "raw", not because he had only been playing CB briefly, but because he didn't have sufficient coaching or natural instincts for the position to make up for it. His hips are so amazing, and his size is so great, that he gets away with a lot. Even still, those who read FootballOutsiders know that Gamble has one of the worst YPA in the league among starting CBs. And when you consider the amount of pressure Carolina's defense provides their CBs, that's really bad.

 

[reneg]

To clarify -- his measurables at CB look good on paper. But that height usually doesn't translate well on the field.

Name me, off the top of your head, some dominating CBs in the NFL that are 6'2". It's been tried before (because everyone thinks that the CBs need to match up with WRs height), but it's not the most successful proposition in the world. Your best CBs are usually the guys who fall into the 5'10" to 6' range.

I can name a few very good NFL corners 6'1" and above off the top of my head who may not have the name of say a Champ Bailey, but are great NFL corners...

Charles Tillman CB Chicago Bears
Nnamdi Asomugha CB Oakland Raiders
Anthony Henry CB Dallas Cowboys
Ike Taylor CB Pittsburg Steelers
Rashaen Mathis CB Jacksonville Jaguars
Charles Woodson CB Green Bay Packers
Chris McAllister CB Baltimore Ravens
Al Harris CB Green Bay Packers
Antonio Cromarties CB San Diego Chargers
Lenny Walls CB Kansas City Chiefs

I am sure there are some I am forgetting, but there alone are some very talented NFL CBs. I think in general people are _far_ too concerned with the measurables. Its this simple can the kid play football? Can he play his position well? If you can answer yes to both of those questions then who cares if he is 5'7" or 6'5", he's going to do fine with the right coaching to help him develop at the next level.