Stephen Hill impressive in Indy
Georgia Tech has been a run-oriented team under Paul Johnson but you wouldn’t know it by the NFL talent that has been produced by the school lately.
Stephen Hill was the latest Georgia Tech wide receiver to blow scouts away with his physical gifts. The 6’4″ 215 pound receiver tied for the fastest 40 time among the 2012 WR group. Hill ran a 4.36, vertical leaped 39.5″ and caught the ball with consistency in drills. Hill challenged Notre Dame’s Michael Floyd for the most impressive performance on Sunday. Hill is the latest of Georgia Tech wide receivers that wowed with their physical gifts despite limited collegiate production.
Hill caught just 28 balls for 820 yards and five touchdowns. At nearly 30 yards/reception, Hill proved to be a dangerous downfield threat in Paul Johnson’s run-oriented GT offense. For some perspective, Demaryius Thomas, 2010 first round pick of Denver, averaged 25 yards/reception before entering the 2010 NFL Draft. Thomas checked in at 6’3″ 225 pounds and ran a 4.38 40 at his pro day workout. Impressive numbers but outdone by Hill on Sunday.
The grossest example of freakish athleticism from a Georgia Tech receiver comes at the hands of Calvin Johnson. Johnson ran a 4.35 40 at 6’5″ 235 pounds. Johnson was considered by many to be the top prospect in the 2007 NFL Draft that included Adrian Peterson and Joe Thomas. He is arguably the most physically dominating receiver in the NFL and may be giving an August speech in Canton, Ohio after he decides to retire from the NFL.
Hill was considered to be a second-round pick by most prognosticators but had the upside to warrant a late-first round selection. With Alshon Jeffery opting to not run in Indy and rumors of so, so interviews with teams he could continue his gradual slide down draft boards. Jeffery loss could be Hill’s gain. There will be a fairly large learning curve for Hill once he hits an NFL camp but you can’t teach what he has.
