Scouting Report: Jonathan Hilliman

Jersey City (NJ) St. Peters Prep running back Jonathan Hilliman
(image via NJ.com)

Name: Jonathan Hilliman
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 210 lbs.
High school: Jersey City (NJ) St. Peters Prep
Position: Running back
Class: 2014

Notes: Has offers from Boston College, Cincinnati, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Maryland, Miami, Michigan, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, UCF, West Virginia, Wisconsin . . . Claims a 4.52 forty . . . As a sophomore in 2011, had 58 carries for 426 yards and 4 touchdowns . . . As a junior in 2012, had 113 carries for 1,400 yards and 21 touchdowns . . . Scout 3-star RB, #27 RB . . . 247 Sports 3-star RB, 87 grade, #30 RB

Strengths: Good straight line speed . . . Strong north-south runner who likes to run downhill . . . Keeps shoulders square to line of scrimmage . . . High effort runner . . . Shows ability to run through arm tackles . . .  Hits hole hard . . . Not afraid of contact

Weaknesses: Always carries ball in right hand, even when going left . . . Not very shifty . . . When forced to cut, takes too long to accelerate . . . A bit of a long strider . . . Not a particularly creative runner . . . Decent but not great vision

Projection: Running back.  I'm a little surprised that Hilliman is ranked as low as he is by 247 Sports and Scout, but I don't see a dynamic runner at the next level.  He seems like a solid between-the-tackles runner, a guy who could make a real name for himself in the Big East.  He's a bit of a slasher, but if defenses get in his way to slow him down, I don't know that he has the acceleration, vision, or agility to still make teams pay.  In a normal year, I would expect to see a player like Hilliman somewhere between the #11 and #20 running back nationally.  The player comparison below is more because of his build and stride than overall athletic ability.

Reminds me of: Chris Perry