2013 NFL Draft Super Sleeper

Jarrett Behar

michael_hillOn January 19, 2013, the inaugural Raycom College Football All-Star Classic was held in Montgomery, Alabama.  Although not at the level of the Senior Bowl or the East-West Shrine Game, the game feature Seniors from major college programs throughout the country, including Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Auburn, Oklahoma, Michigan and UCLA.  And against that level of competition, the Offensive MVP of the game was running back Michael Hill of the Division II Missouri Western Griffons.  On just twelve carries, Hill ran for 148 yards (including runs of 44 and 49 yards) and two touchdowns.  The performance was a perfect cap to a season in which he ran for 2,168 yards on 311 carries (6.97 yards per carry) and scored 19 total touchdowns (16 rushing, three receiving).

NFL teams have recently taken notice and the 5’ 10”, 209 lb, Hill has had visits with the Colts, Chargers and Packers – this was after he posted some impressive results at the Missouri Western Pro Day on March 22.  Those results (thanks to Shane P. Hallam) were particularly impressive as he posted a 4.59 40 yard dash, 37.5 inch vertical jump, 23 repetitions on the bench press, 3.96 short shuttle and 6.73 three cone drill.   That vertical jump would have tied Hill for fourth at the NFL Combine.  The bench press number would have tied him for tenth.  Hill’s three cone drill time would have been good for third, just a hair slower than Christine Michael’s 6.69 and Zac Stacy’s 6.70. Most impressively, the short shuttle number would have been best at this year’s combine, beating Michael’s 4.02, and extremely close to Chris Rainey’s Combine record of 3.93.

The three cone drill tests a player’s ability to change direction and maintain momentum and the short shuttle provides insight into a player’s lateral quickness and start/stop ability.  Although Hill didn’t post a blazing 40 time, it is these results that have likely led to the increased interest in his talent throughout the league.  Although I don’t have access to Missouri Western’s game tape, the skills his Pro Day results suggest are visible when you watch his 2012 highlights:

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Although highlights can be deceiving, Hill seems to be an instinctive, one cut runner who shows good change of direction and vision.  He also shows a willingness to aggressively finish runs.  Hill also demonstrated an ability to catch the ball (including a 48 yard reception on a wheel route against Pittsburgh State you can see at the 1:25 mark of the highlight video).  Indeed, in his college career, Hill caught 93 passes for 882 yards.

Hill’s lack of high-end speed did show up in the Raycom All-Star game when he was caught from behind on at least one of this two long runs.  The flip side of that is he has the size and aggressiveness to punch it in from the goal line, which he did twice in that game after both of those long runs.  Hill’s quick decision making and excellent ability to change direction also ameliorates this issue.

Hill is close in size to the 5’10”, 219 lb  Alfred Morris, but had better 40 yard dash (4.64), short shuttle (4.19) and three cone drill (7.01) times than Morris.  He also beat Morris in the bench press (16 reps) and vertical jump (35.5”).  With his lateral agility and seemingly quick, good decision making and vision, Hill could be this year’s Morris, who was selected by the Redskins in the sixth round of last year’s draft.  With his three visits to NFL teams, Hill’s draft buzz has been building as of late, and it would not surprise me if Hill is able to sneak into the later rounds.

One team that particularly intrigues me is the Packers, who currently have the underwhelming foursome of DuJuan Harris, James Starks, Alex Green and Brandon Saine.  If Hill ends up in Green Bay, and is able to get the opportunity that Morris received last year, by injury or otherwise, he could end up forcing his way onto the field.  Keep your eye on this Division II gem, and don’t forget his name as you get deeper into your rookie drafts this year.