Draft Profile: K.J. Hill

January 12, 2020 /
  • Height: 6’0″
  • Weight: 195lb
  • College: Ohio State University
  • Tape watched: Clemson, Michigan State, Oregon State, TCU (2018), Minnesota (2018)
  • NFL Comparison: Eddie Royal

Pros

  • Short Route Running
    Hill really thrives on short to intermediate routes. There’s no mistake his best college season came with Dwayne Haskins and the offense OSU utilized in 2018. He finds gaps in the defense well. Occasionally hits on seam routes. Hill does not have great route breaks, as he tends to round cuts and has one game speed.
  • Combat Catches
    Again, his game is best suited with plays across the middle. He shows no lack of concentration with contact: no drops issues in college in contested situations.
  • Body Control
    Hill displayed good body control on passes outside of his natural positioning. He does a good job turning the right way on errant passes and finds the ball well.
  • Hands
    Hill displays natural hands in all situations. He is not often a body-catcher.

Cons

  • Athleticism
    K.J. Hill lacks real explosion and top-end athleticism. His game speed shows up on long routes, but this probably won’t be a strength of his at the next level. He doesn’t have great lateral agility, which deters his ability to create after the catch.
  • Release
    Lack of burst and good footwork could be an issue for Hill at the next level. He benefits from working out of the slot often, which may end up being his sole use in the NFL.
  • Route Running
    As mentioned above, Hill is limited with the routes he runs right now. He doesn’t have burst or acceleration to separate from defenders and relies on finding gaps in zone coverage.
  • Physicality
    Hill goes down on first contact more often than not, indicating he won’t be out-muscling cornerbacks in the NFL. He doesn’t offer much in the blocking game, but he has good technique and the desire is there.

Overview

A lack of true acceleration, “juice,” and his size and strength, K.J. Hill projects as a true Y receiver. He will need to play from the slot to help create separation and advantageous match-ups. A surprise combine performance would help immensely for his draft stock.