KYLIN HILL: SCOUTING REPORT. EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW.

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TREVOR LAWRENCE	JUSTIN FIELDS	TREY LANCE
TRAVIS ETIENNE	KYLE PITTS	RONDALE MOORE

BACKGROUND

• Height: 5’11”
• Weight: 215 Lbs
• College: Mississippi State
• Year: Junior
• Position: Running Back

Kylin Hill is a forceful and robust runner who has the ability to keep the chains moving.

Hill declared for the 2021 NFL Draft back in November, when he opted out of the season just 3 games into the 2020 season. 

With Mississippi State head coach Mike Leach operating an Air-Raid offence, Hill’s touches and role had been reduced.  He has shown starting potential and will likely get on the field as a rookie. 

Hill is from Columbus, Mississippi and attended Columbus High School. He left High School as a 4 star recruit by ESPN and was ranked Running Back #6 by 247Sports.com. He committed to Mississippi State, where he featured in all 13 games as a True Freshman. 

While at Mississippi State Hill has become a First-Team All-SEC and won the Conerly Trophy. 

Hill has shown great maturity on and off the field during his college career. His stance taken around the changing of the Mississippi state flag was bold and courageous. He has shown that he can be a leader at such a young age.

Kylin Hill is a running back who will provide good value in later rounds. He is a tough and physical runner who is a powerhouse when running between the tackles.

Watch the video below which shows Hill’s power and competency with the ball in hand.

STRENGTHS

• Physicality
• Toughness
• North to South Runner

Kylin Hill is a north to south, downhill runner. He shines when running between the tackles where he can fight through contact. He is combative and violent when grappling through the trenches and is able to find extra yardage. 

Hill has brilliant size for the position. His upper body strength makes it extremely difficult for defenders to get on top of him. He is a grinder who can fend off outstretched defenders. Hill is super physical and has a low centre of gravity. 

He oozes toughness and teams can be sure Hill will give it everything he has got. He will be a player both coaches and teammates love; someone who will set an example of the level of toughness that is expected. His grit, perseverance and intensity are valued traits at the next level.

Hill is a first down finder and seeker. He has the vision to make plays and bounce outside of the tackles. He shows good decision making and maturity. 

Hill is also actively efficient in pass protection, which you don’t always see from modern running backs. It means there is a possibility that Hill could play all three downs at the next level.

He has had to show in the 2020 season that he can catch the ball out of the back field and it is an area he has dramatically improved on this season. Hill also has good ball security only fumbling once on 481 touches. 

Hill has the maturity and experience to know his faults but he makes up for them with quick feet. He is a player who is always on the go. Hill plays fearless football and will be a useful resource in the NFL.

WEAKNESSES

• Speed
• Big Play ability 
• Patience

Although Hill shows good strength through contact he isn’t the strongest back in this class. He possesses the ability to negotiate his way through the skirmish at the line of scrimmage but he can struggle to shrug off defenders when in open space.

This is usually down to Hill’s lack of speed. He isn’t always able to win in a footrace and he doesn’t create those explosive, big yardage gains to get a drive going. He also needs to learn to take the easy yardage. On occasion there were extra yards to be taken instead of trying to bulldoze his way over defenders. 

He will gain short and medium plays but you will rarely get the 20+ yards from an explosive run like you will with other running backs entering the 2021 NFL Draft. He doesn’t have the elusiveness to make guys miss.

Again, although Hill shows great decision making, he doesn’t necessarily show patience as a runner. He doesn’t wait for running lanes to open and can find himself in the back of a blocker all too often. 

Although he can contribute to the passing game if needed, he isn’t naturally gifted as a pass catcher. Hill doesn’t necessarily give you an elite trait to work with, but he can contribute to all phases of the game if needed. 

SUMMARY

Hill’s attitude and approach to the game is great to see. He is a player you watch and say “I want this guy fighting for my team!”.  

Yes, Hill doesn’t necessarily have the potential that others do but he makes up for that with good decision making, physicality and toughness.

Hill has the mentality and ethos to be a great addition to any NFL roster. His production may be scheme dependent but teams will know that Hill is a player who will empty the tank for them. 

Draft projection: 4th ROUND

How good of a prospect is Kylin Hill? Let us know over on Twitter @NinetynineYards and @Owain_Jones_