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Jeremy Hill
Position: Running Back
Combine Height/Weight: 6-1, 233 pounds
LSU Listed Height/Weight: 6-2, 235
Hand Size: 10 3/8 inches
Arm Length: 32 5/8 inches
40-Yard Dash Time: 4.66 (combine), 4.52 (pro day)
Bench-Press Reps (of 225 pounds): 20
Vertical Jump: 29 inches (combine), 31 (pro day)
Short/Long Shuttle: 4.52/12.01
3-Cone Drill: 7.64
Broad Jump: 113 inches
Strengths
Big, powerful runner with speed to break the big play...well-built, weight is distributed well through his legs, torso and arms...gifted, instinctive runner that thrives behind both zone or power blocking...tremendous burst, both through the hole and at the second level -- knows how to accelerate at the right moment to break away from linebackers...upright runner, but with tremendous balance...keeps his feet on the first hit and stutters well to make a tackler hesitate...uses the stiff-arm well...runs behind his pads and keeps his level low at the point of attack in short-yardage situations...incredibly intelligent as a football player -- picks up blitzes as a blocker, and has big, soft hands in the passing game...knows how to do the "little things," like reaching for extra yardage or staying in bounds in a 4-minute situation...had a relatively light workload with just two years of college, so should be very healthy.
Weaknesses
First and foremost, has off-field concerns...was arrested as a high-school senior for statutory sexual assault, and again after freshman season at LSU for punching a man in a bar fight...a little tight in his hips -- can't really string together a ton of moves in the open field...lacks NFL-level long speed...a little raw in the passing game in terms of the routes he ran...can get lazy with his vision in late-game situations.
Verdict
Hill will have the opportunity to be a very, very good NFL running back. He's a classic 20-carry-a-game pounder, with the added bonus of having a good mind and set of skills for the passing game. An NFL franchise would be right to have some concerns about Hill's judgment and maturity, but by most accounts he has handled the draft process openly and honestly and I think they'll like what they find as they dig in to his background. Plus, he's likely to get a very rousing endorsement from people in the LSU program. As a football player, Hill would fit a number of NFL teams well as a situational back, if not as a starter. He has an argument to be considered the top runner in this draft, and I would be stunned if he didn't come off the board in the second or third round.