In the weeks leading up the seventh annual NFLPA Collegiate Bowl on Jan. 20 at the Rose Bowl Stadium, we will profile 10 draft-eligible players who have committed to play in the prestigious all-star game. Today’s feature is on TCU quarterback Kenny Hill.
There are college football players who seem to arrive like a streak of lightning, dazzling so brightly it’s hard to imagine that they really existed. Then there are those who seem to play forever in a sport with so much turnover that they are almost ingrained within the landscape itself. Kenny Hill has somehow captured the essences of both archetypes: flashing onto the scene as a sophomore before ultimately maturing into the finished product that led TCU to the Big 12 championship game in his senior year.
Hill exploded in his first ever start in 2014, back when he played for Texas A&M. Under the lights in a nationally televised game, Hill threw for 511 yards and three touchdowns against South Carolina — and that was just the beginning. In his first five games – all wins — Hill threw for 17 touchdowns to only 2 interceptions. Even as the team would struggle over the next few weeks, Hill still put up numbers. Against Mississippi State, he threw for 365 yards and four touchdowns. A week later, he tossed for 401 yards and two touchdowns against Ole Miss.
But after a series of circumstances that led to Hill seek a transfer, the Texas native found himself at home in Gary Patterson’s offense at TCU. Once again, he got off to a red-hot start, throwing for 439 yards in his first game for the Horned Frogs. By season’s end, he had accumulated 3,208 passing yards and 17 touchdowns. A facet that became even more prominent was his dual-threat ability. Though he was always quick on his feet, Hill was able to turn that into a consistent ability to score. This was evident in the career-high 609 yards and 10 touchdowns he totaled on the ground to lead TCU to the Liberty Bowl in his junior year.
This past season, Hill has been able to master his talents into playing the quarterback position, and TCU’s offense flourished as a result. Though his passing yardage totals dropped, Hill displayed an improved football IQ and instincts in of the pocket with 21 touchdowns and a career-low six interceptions while completing 67.2 percent of his passes. As he makes his transition to the pros, Hill’s proven ability to adapt to new environments, succeed, and better himself will translate at the next level.
-David Chough