Name: Daxton Hill
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 192 lbs.
High school: Tulsa (OK) Booker T. Washington
Position: Safety
Class: Junior
Jersey number: #30
Last year: I ranked Hill #3 and said he would be the starting free safety (LINK). He made 46 tackles, 1 interception, and 5 pass breakups.
TTB Rating: 100
Daxton Hill was Michigan's highest rated recruit in the class of 2019, and much like other skill position players at Michigan under Jim Harbaugh, he has not lived up to the expectations. He certainly was not the only one, but he appeared to be disinterested in playing football during the 2020 season. There were times where he did not appear to be going full speed, either in running or tackling. There were even times where he seemed disinterested in getting lined up and in a good stance. When walk-on safety Hunter Reynolds got a chance to play, he seemed to outperform Hill if only because Reynolds looked like he actually cared.
Going into his third year, it's time for Hill to finally reach his potential. A new coaching staff reportedly plans to use him in a variety of roles in the secondary, playing anywhere from corner to nickel to strong safety to deep safety. I am a little concerned that his new position coach is Ron Bellamy (a former receiver and a high school coach through last season), but it's also fair to note that Bellamy played in the NFL. Guys who play in the NFL tend to know stuff.
Hill has very good speed, he has decent size, and he has playmaking ability. He can also lay the lumber if he wants. The big question is whether Jim Harbaugh, Mike Macdonald, and Bellamy can bring the best out of him. Michigan needs him to play at a high level if they want to win, since there are questions at cornerback and in the front seven. I think the new staff might be a positive jolt of energy for Hill, so he should take a step forward in 2021, perhaps resulting in an early departure for the NFL.
Prediction: Starting safety
Physically, he can do it all. And we need a Jabrill Peppers performance out of him to escape the (many) tossup games on schedule
ReplyDeleteWill he? "We hope so"
I suspect he'll play with more enthusiasm with live crowds and knowing that he has to show his goods to get more NFL buzz. I doubt he'll come back next year.
ReplyDeleteRespectfully disagree that he has not lived up to expectations.
ReplyDeleteI'd put him at #1b alongside Hutchinson, as a key player they need to move around into different spots to make the most out of, and a likely high pick into the NFL after this year.