Dax

Hill

Hill exited Sunday’s game against the Ravens and did not return to the field. The third-year corner had his leg twisted up while attempting to make a cut and was ruled out shortly after leaving the field. The team will take a closer look to confirm, but this would be a brutal loss for a secondary that’s allowed 350-plus passing yards in each of its last three games.

The Bengals’ starting left corner, Hill twisted up his knee trying to cut in the first quarter. He was immediately ruled out, which is always a bad sign. Hill did walk under his own power to the locker room. Perhaps he has avoided a season-ending injury. The 2022 first-rounder had been having a better campaign than the past two years.

Hill (6'0"/192) getting taken in the first round has gained a lot of steam over the last few weeks. While many believe Notre Dame’s Kyle Hamilton is the best available safety in the draft, Hill isn’t far behind. His ability to play different spots and cover deeper down the field or come up and apply pressure off the snap is what has teams interested. He’s able to cover different spots and was the best DB in the Big Ten as his seven forced incompletions against slot receivers was the best. He should be hearing his name called towards the end of Day 1.

Hill was already projected to be a late-first round pick going into the predraft process, but after the impressive showing at the combine, his stock has soared. PFF’s Treash says that his production at Michigan along with his pure athleticism is what will attract teams. Look for him going very early on Day 1. He has a 73.3 coverage rating per Pro Football Focus and his NFL Next Gen Score is 88, there is no doubt many teams will be looking to grab him in the draft

Hill (6'0"/192) came into the combine as a possible late first-rounder, and now that he’s put some good numbers at the combine, that’s a realistic possibility. According to NFL Next Gen, he finished with an athleticism score of 96, which led all safeties. His explosive numbers were not very good with a 33.5" vertical and 10"1' broad jump but made up for it with a great showing in the 40-yard dash with 4.38 seconds, 4.06 in the shuttle, and 6.57 in the three-cone. His floor drills were solid as he moved to the ball very well, so it looks like we could hear him as one of the last names called on Day 1.

Hill (6'0/192) is a former five-star blue-chip recruit who plays with an aggressive mentality and a versatile skill set that allows him to play any position in the defensive backfield. He accelerates quickly once he diagnoses the play and exhibits sound form when tackling. A gambler, Hill will take risks in order to try and make the big play. The Wolverines’ star safety posted 69 tackles, 4.5 TFL, two interceptions and eight PBU this season in what was a breakout campaign from a ball production standpoint. Though he is a fearsome run defender, Hill can sometimes get beat over the top by wideouts with high-end speed. Most of the recent mocks have him landing in the second round, but he’s very much in play to slide into the back end of the first.

Hill (6'0/192) was touted by ESPN Draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. as a potential first round draft pick back in October, and will now get a chance to find out whether or not that is in the cards for him as he prepares for the NFL Draft. This season at Michigan, Hill totaled 71 tackles, including eight quarterback pressures and one sack while also notching two interceptions and six pass breakups. Hill was targeted on 68 passes this season, allowing 48 receptions for 456 yards and one touchdown. Hill totaled four career interceptions at Michigan, and recorded a 73.3 coverage rating per Pro Football Focus.

“He’s exactly what NFL coordinators want in a defensive back; he can be a deep safety, cover wide receivers from the slot, or play close to the line of scrimmage and make plays in the run game,” Kiper wrote. In addition, Hill has flashed the “ball skills of a corner” and has five TFL. “At 6-foot, 190 pounds, Hill has long arms and the speed to run with wideouts,” Kiper wrote. Hill is a former five-star recruit who has started all three years on campus.

Hill departed Saturday’s game early due to injury and did not play during the second half, leaving the Wolverines a bit light in the secondary. But the expectation is that the sophomore safety will be able to practice later this week, which opens the door for him to see action when the Wolverines face in-state rival Michigan State. Freshman Makari Paige filled in for the injured Hill against Minnesota, and he had his issues (which isn’t a surprise given his inexperience).

Hill (6'0/190) was a five-star prospect who appeared in 13 games for the Wolverines, but he didn’t really start making an impact for Michigan until the second half of the campaign. “As the season progressed, he started to see more of the field, finishing with 36 total tackles, one interception, three pass breakups and two fumble recoveries,” VanHaaren writes. He also notes that Josh Metellus is now a member of the Minnesota Vikings, so there’s plenty of opportunity for Hill in 2020, as well. It should shock absolutely no one if Hill played like a star this fall -- assuming that’s when we’re playing college football, of course.