'14 TX LB Kolin Hill (Texas Tech Transfer)

[ND NYC]

love this guys tape!

r u kidding me?!

u cant teach what he has, and they can teach him what he needs to know

top sleeper of the 2014 class for me-on either side of the ball

 

[IrishCat]

Now, I have two kids to follow from the San Antonio area... Corey and Kolin!

Schertz has been a solid HS program here in the SA area... Cibolo Steele is kind of a new comer... and the other is perennial Converse Judson.

 

[ResLife Hero]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Texas LB Kolin Hill says he's been working on his speed as he gets ready to report to <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23NotreDame&src=hash">#NotreDame</a> in June(VIP):
<a href="http://t.co/fpBqzxxD1E">http://t.co/fpBqzxxD1E</a></p>— Dan Murphy (@BGI_DanMurphy) <a href="https://twitter.com/BGI_DanMurphy/statuses/472780093937692672">May 31, 2014</a></blockquote>
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[Domina Nostra]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Texas LB Kolin Hill says he's been working on his speed as he gets ready to report to <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23NotreDame&src=hash">#NotreDame</a> in June(VIP):
<a href="http://t.co/fpBqzxxD1E">http://t.co/fpBqzxxD1E</a></p>— Dan Murphy (@BGI_DanMurphy) <a href="https://twitter.com/BGI_DanMurphy/statuses/472780093937692672">May 31, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Looks like he'll start at SAM. He's hard to project. He seemed really athletic but it will be a whole new skill set.

 

[ResLife Hero]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Incoming Irish: OLB Kolin Hill talks offseason prep & playing TX in '15 ($) "I want to show them what they missed" <a href="http://t.co/NsoG6j88GA">http://t.co/NsoG6j88GA</a></p>— Anna Hickey (@AnnaHScout) <a href="https://twitter.com/AnnaHScout/statuses/474187338554175488">June 4, 2014</a></blockquote>
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Kolin is one of, if not the most interesting recruits to me from last cycle. I think he has a unique skill set and will find a way to be disrupting a lot of backfields by the time he graduates.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

With Diaco's scheme gone, and BVG's scheme in place, I feel Kolin is going to have a very nice career at ND. This kid screams playmaker when you watch his film. Very disruptive. That seems to be right up BVG's alley.

 

[Irish#1]

He is one I am looking forward to seeing.

 

[Luckylucci]

With Diaco's scheme gone, and BVG's scheme in place, I feel Kolin is going to have a very nice career at ND. This kid screams playmaker when you watch his film. Very disruptive. That seems to be right up BVG's alley.

Due to his lack of height for a true DE he's actually one of the prospects most suited for CAT OLB in a 3-4 long term. Von Miller, Terrell Suggs, Clay Mathews, James Harrison etc. Not too many high quality DE's play on Sundays in the NFL at his height. I'll add that if you lack ideal height but your best asset is pass rushing, its in your best interest to play OLB in a 3-4 thats exactly why they stand up all of the too short DE's and have them move in space at the combine. In fact if Michael Sam could've shown better in those drills he would've been a higher draft pick.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Due to his lack of height for a true DE he's actually one of the prospects most suited for CAT OLB in a 3-4 long term. Von Miller, Terrell Suggs, Clay Mathews, James Harrison etc. Not too many high quality DE's play on Sundays in the NFL at his height. I'll add that if you lack ideal height but your best asset is pass rushing, its in your best interest to play OLB in a 3-4 thats exactly why they stand up all of the too short DE's and have them move in space at the combine. In fact if Michael Sam could've shown better in those drills he would've been a higher draft pick.

Agreed. Hill is one of the few guys who is definitely disadvantaged in the new scheme. Unless he develops into a complete 4-3 OLB who can cover in space, he may never crack the 2-deep.

 

[Luckylucci]

Agreed. Hill is one of the few guys who is definitely disadvantaged in the new scheme. Unless he develops into a complete 4-3 OLB who can cover in space, he may never crack the 2-deep.

Yep, I really hope that instead of turning him into a true 4-3 OLB which would take away the best part of his game. We RS him and create a 1 year gap between him and Blankenship/Williams. Play him at WDE/situational pass rusher and let him create havoc. In college you can have a lot of success being an undersized DE just not in the pros.

 

[ACamp1900]

With Diaco's scheme gone, and BVG's scheme in place, I feel Kolin is going to have a very nice career at ND. This kid screams playmaker when you watch his film. Very disruptive. That seems to be right up BVG's alley.

Agreed. Hill is one of the few guys who is definitely disadvantaged in the new scheme. Unless he develops into a complete 4-3 OLB who can cover in space, he may never crack the 2-deep.

I love this place...

 

[dublinirish]

he might end up as the Anthony Rabasa of this class, hoping he can make an impact though, kid has got violent hands and great pass rushing potential

 

[aubeirish]

I love this kid. You can see pretty clearly watching his film that he loves to murder people on the field. That is what you are looking for on defense. Add that agression to great size, speed, motor and hands and you have Kolin. Very excited to see him in action.

 

[koonja]

I'd keep this to myself, but after Blake's probably decommitment, I'm all gunz blazing.

When I watched his film, I saw Lawrence Taylor.

Have at it.

 

[woolybug25]

Yep, I really hope that instead of turning him into a true 4-3 OLB which would take away the best part of his game. We RS him and create a 1 year gap between him and Blankenship/Williams. Play him at WDE/situational pass rusher and let him create havoc. In college you can have a lot of success being an undersized DE just not in the pros.

Elvis Dumerville, Osi Umenyiora and Charles Johnson would like to have a word with you...

 

[Luckylucci]

I'd keep this to myself, but after Blake's probably decommitment, I'm all gunz blazing.

When I watched his film, I saw Lawrence Taylor.

Have at it.

Who was a 3-4 OLB right?

 

[koonja]

Who was a 3-4 OLB right?

I honestly have never seen LT play, nor highlights of him.

I'm just being a jabroni.

But I think Kolin is a stage 5 FREAK.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

I love this place...

Lucci and I backed our opinion up with a plausible argument! Undersized one-dimensional pass-rushers can succeed in a 3-4 at ROLB, but not in a 4-3. He's too small to play DL, and 4-3 LBs cannot afford to be one-dimensional. If Hill can develop some coverage skills (which he was almost never asked to do in high school), then he could be a monster SLB for us. But the odds of a one-dimensional 3 recruit overtaking more complete 4 LB recruits on our roster are not good, even if he's really really good at that one dimension.

 

[woolybug25]

Lucci and I backed our opinion up with a plausible argument! Undersized one-dimensional pass-rushers can succeed in a 3-4 at ROLB, but not in a 4-3. He's too small to play DL, and 4-3 LBs cannot afford to be one-dimensional. If Hill can develop some coverage skills (which he was almost never asked to do in high school), then he could be a monster SLB for us. But the odds of a one-dimensional 3 recruit overtaking more complete 4 LB recruits on our roster are not good, even if he's really really good at that one dimension.

All three below played well in 4-3 lineups in the NFL. Thoughts?

Elvis Dumerville, Osi Umenyiora and Charles Johnson would like to have a word with you...

 

[Rhode Irish]

I think they'd be better off using him exclusively as a rush end in sub packages on obvious passing downs than trying to force-fit him into a role in the base defense that we realistically don't need him to play, and for which he probably isn't best suited to play. I don't think that helps the team or the player.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

All three below played well in 4-3 lineups in the NFL. Thoughts?

Dumervil - 5'11'', 260 lbs.
Umenyiora - 6'3'', 255 lbs.
Johnson - 6'2'', 285 lbs.
Hill - 6'2'', 220

It's not just his height. I will be ecstatic if he can put on 30-40 lbs. and maintain his explosiveness as a WDE, but very few guys can manage that. More likely he stays at OLB and is limited by his coverage ability.

His floor is probably a 3rd down pass-rushing specialist and ST contributor. I like Hill a lot, but I think he's one of the few guys on our roster who would clearly be better off in a 3-4.

 

[irishog77]

So maybe Hill is just a potential "role" player, ala Fertitta.

 

[Rhode Irish]

So maybe Hill is just a potential "role" player, ala Fertitta.

I think he is different from Fertitta. Not to short change that kid, but I see his ceiling as being as a guy who can carve out some sort of a role. I think Hill can be an impact player. Playing "only" in sub doesn't necessarily make you a bit part in modern football. Third down pass rushers that only play sub get drafted and make NFL teams to do play that role. Sub packages are on the field almost as much as base defenses, and depending on matchups they could be on the field more in some weeks.

 

[irishog77]

I think he is different from Fertitta. Not to short change that kid, but I see his ceiling as being as a guy who can carve out some sort of a role. I think Hill can be an impact player. Playing "only" in sub doesn't necessarily make you a bit part in modern football. Third down pass rushers that only play sub get drafted and make NFL teams to do play that role. Sub packages are on the field almost as much as base defenses, and depending on matchups they could be on the field more in some weeks.

Yeah, I wan't knocking Hill for being a sub-package-type-of-guy.

I was merely pointing out/asking that maybe the staff only sees him as a certain type of player.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Yep, I really hope that instead of turning him into a true 4-3 OLB which would take away the best part of his game. We RS him and create a 1 year gap between him and Blankenship/Williams. Play him at WDE/situational pass rusher and let him create havoc. In college you can have a lot of success being an undersized DE just not in the pros.

I think you nailed it.

 

[woolybug25]

Dumervil - 5'11'', 260 lbs.
Umenyiora - 6'3'', 255 lbs.
Johnson - 6'2'', 285 lbs.
Hill - 6'2'', 220

It's not just his height. I will be ecstatic if he can put on 30-40 lbs. and maintain his explosiveness as a WDE, but very few guys can manage that. More likely he stays at OLB and is limited by his coverage ability.

His floor is probably a 3rd down pass-rushing specialist and ST contributor. I like Hill a lot, but I think he's one of the few guys on our roster who would clearly be better off in a 3-4.

None of those guys were even close to that weight when they were 17 years old. That's their NFL playing weight. Hill is probably already heavier than 220 at this point as well.

There are plenty guys in the NFL with lesser names like Shea McClellin (6'3"/252), Kyle Wilbur (6'4"/250) and Jonathan Massaquoi (6'2"/254) that are in the league at lower weights too.

Finally, look at this year's draft class of DE's. There certainly were a lot of undersized DE's in it. So there is certainly evidence of undersized DE's succeeding at the college level.

Dee Ford - 6'2"/252
Jackson Jeffcoat - 6'3"/247
Michael Sam - 6'2"/261
Johnathon Newsome - 6'3"/247

Right now, Kolin is just a kid. He has a frame that you can add a significant amount of weight too as well. I expect him to get to campus over 230 and end his career even higher. Is he undersized? Yes... but there are a ton of guys that traveled down the path in front of him successfully.

 

[Voltaire]

His game is sort of reminiscent of Jarvis Jones, who excelled as a pass rush OLB in Georgia's 3-4

 

[Luckylucci]

None of those guys were even close to that weight when they were 17 years old. That's their NFL playing weight. Hill is probably already heavier than 220 at this point as well.

There are plenty guys in the NFL with lesser names like Shea McClellin (6'3"/252), Kyle Wilbur (6'4"/250), was drafted as a 3-4 OLB and is having troubles adjusting and Jonathan Massaquoi (6'2"/254) that are in the league at lower weights too.

Finally, look at this year's draft class of DE's. There certainly were a lot of undersized DE's in it. So there is certainly evidence of undersized DE's succeeding at the college level.

Dee Ford - 6'2"/252, drafted to play 3-4 OLB role
Jackson Jeffcoat - 6'3"/247, did not get drafted
Michael Sam - 6'2"/261, drafted in the 7th rd.
Johnathon Newsome - 6'3"/247

Right now, Kolin is just a kid. He has a frame that you can add a significant amount of weight too as well. I expect him to get to campus over 230 and end his career even higher. Is he undersized? Yes... but there are a ton of guys that traveled down the path in front of him successfully.

To answer your first question about the 3 guys. Obviously it can be done. Nobody said that it was impossible. But the initial post that I spoke about was projecting Kolin Hill going forward and on a pretty unanimous level if you are projecting a 6'2 240lb pass rusher, they are better suited in a 3-4 OLB role. On this post specifically, I bolded some thoughts. Lastly, I did say in my post that you can have a lot of success in college but not as much of a chance in the pros. Then I said its in his best interest to learn the 3-4 OLB role since he'll most likely end up there if he has aspirations after college. If we're talking just about how this affects ND he could be a great college DE but I really don't see him making the transition to SAM that takes away his best trait.

 

[Irishman77]

Here: Bruce Carter Stats, News, Videos, Highlights, Pictures, Bio - Dallas Cowboys - ESPN

 

[Luckylucci]

Here: Bruce Carter Stats, News, Videos, Highlights, Pictures, Bio - Dallas Cowboys - ESPN

He was a 6'2 200lb S prospect out of HS and played QB for his HS team. I think thats drastically different. Rushing the passer was never his strong suit. Completely different prospects.

-He finished his final season as a Tar Heel with 57 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and one forced fumble. Carter was again voted to Second-Team All-ACC.

I would be shocked if this is the type of player Hill turns out to be.