The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1083898
MARCH 2019 THE WOLVERINE 31 that. He just does his job, and that's the biggest thing about him." Hill's humility allowed Blitch to showcase other players who needed the boost in recruiting that Booker T. Washington's star obviously did not. The assistant coach withheld Hill's name from an all-star game submission ballot, knowing the se- nior wasn't going to be able to play in it anyway. Many would still want to be on the ballot, racking up one more bul- let point on a sterling résumé. Hill proved just as happy seeing team- mates promoted. "He knew he'd be an automatic lock for it, but because he's that big of a team guy, that's what he does," Blitch explained. "He's just a great teammate, and all the guys love him. He lays it on the line every day — practice, games, everything. That's just been his mantra, and will con- tinue to be. "His character can't be overstated. That's been his staple — how humble he is and how great of a person he is — on the field, yes, but even more so off the field." Michigan once featured an excep- tional defensive player in Charles Woodson who wound up contrib- uting on the offensive side as well. There's been no talk that Hill's speed might eventually show up for the Wolverines on that side of the football. But if it did, it wouldn't mark the first time. "He ran jet sweeps, and we would just throw it out there and let him go get it," Blitch recalled of Hill on of- fense. "We had one in the semifinals this year. We threw it to him and he went up and caught it, stopped on a dime, spun around this kid at about the 5-yard line, just made him look silly, and backpedaled into the end zone. "He's a different type of a talent. He really is." When there's any hint of a deficit, Hill doesn't need anyone else to point it out. He chided himself following the All-American Bowl for in-game tackling issues that he felt fell short of his ability. He even self-corrected when he briefly de-committed from Michigan and pledged to Alabama, before com- ing back to his original choice and making it public on the first signing day in December. "We try to stay out of it," Blitch said of the double-flip. "It's a big decision for them. It's their future. Them and their families really need to make that decision for themselves. It's going to affect them for a long time after they leave our program. "I think he made the right decision. He feels really comfortable there. He seems completely satisfied with his choice." Harbaugh seems more than satis- fied with it. And whereas most rook- ies are playing catch-up early in their careers, Hill has been there and done that better than most. "He's got a lot of things going for him, but obviously that speed is the biggest thing," Blitch stressed. "He's got an extra gear. He can take a good play and turn it into a great play, just with speed alone. "On top of that, his ability to read offenses, to be able to see what's go- ing on and be in the right spot at the right times, is just huge. Even when it looks like he's beat, his closing speed is just unreal. "There are times he can take an ex- tra second to try and diagnose what's happening and still recover. He knows how to play in the box, come down and make plays in the backfield and obliterate some kids." Obliterating foes from Ohio State or Michigan State is another matter. Blitch insists he'll be watching closely, with no lack of expectation. "You want to see what he can do," the coach said. "You see a kid like that, you know he's going to be spe- cial. You definitely want to follow and see how big he can go and how far he takes it. "They're getting a heck of a football player up there." ❏ Hill was named a first-team All-American in 2018 by USA Today and a second-team choice by MaxPreps. He was also selected to play in the All-American Bowl in San Antonio, where he did not allow a catch. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM