2007 NFL Draft:
Jason Hill Returns Home to San Francisco

By Jeremy White, NFLHS.com

Jason Hill thought about leaving Washington State in 2005 and declaring early for the NFL draft.

As a junior, he caught 62 passes for 1,097 yards and 13 touchdowns. He was a big-play receiver with big-time numbers and was told by the NFL's Central Scouting Service that he would probably be a fourth-round draft pick, possibly a late third-rounder. That wasn't good enough for Hill. He'd wait another year, when his status would improve. Besides, he had a reputation to uphold.

Hill (#83) catches a touchdown pass against Rodney Van (#3) of UCLA on Oct. 28, 2006.

"Making the decision to go back to college was easy," he says. "I do a lot of speaking to kids in my community back home in San Francisco, and I do a lot of one-on-one work with kids. They look up to me because of what I've accomplished on the football field. One of the things I always tell these kids is how important it is to graduate from college, so it was important to me to come back and graduate myself."

The result was an improvement in his draft status, and the chance to play at home. He was selected in the third round by his hometown San Francisco 49ers.

Hill, who is six feet tall and weighs 204 pounds, is a speedy wideout who has little trouble distancing himself from defensive backs.

He describes himself as "having a knack for big plays. I had 32 career touchdowns (in college) and I look forward to scoring many more in the NFL," he says. "I averaged over 18 yards a catch in college. I try to get in a groove every game and not vary from that."

Hill graduated from Washington State with a degree in sociology in just three-and-a-half years. He says being a good student - and a good citizen - is important to him.

"I've always tried to be a good, responsible person," he says. "That's how I was raised. Maturity is one of my best attributes. When you're young you're often immature. I've tried to show maturity throughout my career. That's why I graduated in less than four years when a lot of guys who play football take five years to graduate."

Hill says high school players who fill the split end role need to learn patience as well as work on their speed and hands. Passes won't come their way every play, especially in a run-oriented offense.

"You have to be patient because the number of balls that come to you will vary game by game depending on the matchups," he says.

Like many receivers, Hill idolized Jerry Rice as he grew up in San Francisco. Now that he sees children in the Golden Gate City idolizing him, he's humbled. He says it wasn't too long ago that he was just a typical - albeit more talented - high school football player. He recalls his prep days with fondness, saying one of the best things about varsity football is that good players get to play on both sides of the ball.

"I also played free safety in high school, and I really enjoyed that," he says. "I enjoy being physical. That's why I enjoy run blocking, too, because I'm a physical player."

Story courtesy Red Line Editorial, Inc.