Chicago Bears Draft Scout: Holton Hill
Could Texas cornerback Holton Hill be a potential bet for the Chicago Bears in the 2018 NFL draft?
Holton Hill was able to get on the field as a true freshman and was an honorable mention All Big-12 pick this season. While his size, high school reputation and freshman year would have him destined for stardom, the rest of his career featured ups and downs. He was only able to play five games as a sophomore with a variety of issues. Then, as a junior, he was suspended for three games. Hill was having an excellent season and has a high ceiling in the NFL. Is he worth the risk, and should the Chicago Bears look into cornerback Holton Hill?
Measurables:
Age: 21
School: Texas
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Strengths
Holton Hill has tremendous size and length for the position. Hill knows that and uses that to his advantage. He is one of the more physical cornerbacks in the draft class. Hill is always attacking downhill against the run. In the play below, he shows his willingness, understanding, and speed as he dodges a blocker and sticks his head in the running game near the line of scrimmage.
Hill also has quick feet that ties into his physicality well. He is able to stick with receivers over the middle and off of the line of scrimmage in quick passing. In the play below, he is lined up on the left. Hill gets a good push off of the line and is able to stick to the back pocket of his man over the middle of the field.
Third and one at the goal line is shut down by Holton Hill in a one on one matchup. He has the quick feet to shuffle, he plants hard, and bursts forward to get his hands in to break up the pass with physicality.
While the crossing route throws off the path of Hill, he is able to get downhill, pursue the football and make the tackle short of the chains.
Weaknesses
Hill is handsy to the point of getting penalized for holding and pass interference a lot. There times he can open his hips too early, and expose himself to breaking routes. He also has a lack of ball skills, with just three interceptions in his time at Texas. Two were gift wrapped.
Holton Hill also has his off of the field questions as well. There are rumors about what exactly will be questioned, but teams need to worry about his moral conduct and commitment to football.