BeeDee
08-11-2005, 11:20 AM
Expanded role a perfect fit for multi-talented Hillis
BY DAVID SHOWERS
Northwest Arkansas Times (http://nwanews.com/story.php?paper=nwat§ion=Sports&storyid=31070)
August 11, 2005
When he arrived on the University of Arkansas campus last year, coaches thought might be getting a plodding fullback that would wade intrepidly into the line of scrimmage.
Sophomore Peyton Hillis didn’t disappoint. He was more than equal to the task of slogging out tough yards. It was his supple hands that caught coaches unaware. Tuesday morning at Razorback Football Media Day, running backs coach Danny Nutt recounted when Hillis’ latent ability to catch the ball was discovered.
"We found out during camp that he had the softest hands on the field," D. Nutt said. "His dad guaranteed me he could catch the ball. He said he’s been throwing it to him since he was 3-years-old."
By playing catch with his son at their home in Conway, Doug Hillis made sure Peyton’s hands would be one of the finest of his many attributes. "My dad didn’t care about how fast I was," Hillis said. "He cared about how well I could catch the football. Every time I’d miss it, he would throw it harder."
Those games of catch between father and son will make Hillis one of the most indispensable components of Arkansas’ offense this season. "He’s going to be a big part of our offense," Nutt said. "He’s going to be used at tailback, fullback, wide receiver and tight end. He’s going to be doing a little bit of everything. As far as splitting out and playing tight end, we’ve never had a back since I’ve been here that was that talented.
" I knew he could run the ball. I saw him run and told the other coaches that he was fast enough to run the ball in the middle of the field. We thought we’d use him in short yardage and as a blocking back. "
Hillis’ high school credentials proved he could tote the mail. He tallied obscene numbers during his senior year at Conway, running roughshod over any hapless defender that intersected his path.
Hillis amassed 2,631 rushing yards, averaging 10.1 yards per attempt. He authored 29 touchdowns, including nine of 55 or more yards. Hillis ’ yardage was second in Arkansas Class AAAAA history, behind teammate De’Arrius Howard’s 2,746.
The pass-catching chops Hillis flashed last season has diversified his role in Arkansas ’ offense. Hillis caught 12 passes for 97 yards last year in limited action, including an 18-yard touchdown catch against Alabama. The circus catch saw Hillis pluck the poorly-thrown ball from the sky amid a host of Tide defenders.
He also showed he had a nose for the goal line, scoring eight touchdowns, which tied him with Thomas Brown of Georgia for the most touchdowns by an SEC freshman.
" From 3 or 4 yards out, or 7 or 8 yards out, he’s a threat to score, "said Houston Nutt, Arkansas’ head coach." He’s been the most consistent player we’ve had at catching the ball. "When the ball is in the air, and it’s going to number 22, you know he’s going to catch it. He’s going to be used in a variety of different ways. He won’t come off the field much."
A broken back was the only thing that kept Hillis off the field last year. But the injury allowed Hillis to display another of his myriad attributes, resiliency. He broke his L1, L2 and L3 vertebrae at Florida, the fifth game of the season. Doctors surmised that the malady would idle Hillis for six to eight weeks, but Hillis rebuffed that prognosis when he returned three weeks later to play against Georgia.
He said he’s made a full recovery, saving for some lingering stiffness that he said will be with him the rest of his life. Hillis doesn’t lament the residual effects of his injury. He knows it’s unavoidable part of the game. "Football’s a man’s game," Hillis said. "It’s not for kids. There is a 100-percent chance that you’re going to get hurt. You have to play through injuries like that.
" I was worried about getting back on the field last year. They weren’t going to give me a medical redshirt because I had already played in five games. I got back on the field as fast as I could, so I wouldn’t lose the whole year. "
The diversity of Hillis’ role this season will force him to adapt to a different game plan each week. He said he’ll have to meet with Danny Nutt early in the week to find out exactly how he will be deployed for the upcoming game.
" It seems like the whole offensive scheme has changed this year, "Hillis said." They want me to use my strength to catch the ball over the middle. They think I can use my size and strength to out-muscle defensive backs. They know I can go over the middle and take the hits. "
Hillis is not only adaptable, but he also has the ability to put football in its proper perspective. Last year when Arkansas suffered a heartbreaking, 22-20 loss to Texas, morose wasn’t a strong enough descriptive to explain how somber the mood was in the locker room.
Those in the Arkansas camp didn’t take the loss well. Their faces and words manifested their disappointment. Hillis, however, was one of the few people who didn’t indulge in the post-game pity party.
" Football makes men what they are, "Hillis said." You win some. You lose some. It’s OK to be upset, but if you give 100 percent, you don’t have anything to feel bad about. You be a man, and you move on. "
BY DAVID SHOWERS
Northwest Arkansas Times (http://nwanews.com/story.php?paper=nwat§ion=Sports&storyid=31070)
August 11, 2005
When he arrived on the University of Arkansas campus last year, coaches thought might be getting a plodding fullback that would wade intrepidly into the line of scrimmage.
Sophomore Peyton Hillis didn’t disappoint. He was more than equal to the task of slogging out tough yards. It was his supple hands that caught coaches unaware. Tuesday morning at Razorback Football Media Day, running backs coach Danny Nutt recounted when Hillis’ latent ability to catch the ball was discovered.
"We found out during camp that he had the softest hands on the field," D. Nutt said. "His dad guaranteed me he could catch the ball. He said he’s been throwing it to him since he was 3-years-old."
By playing catch with his son at their home in Conway, Doug Hillis made sure Peyton’s hands would be one of the finest of his many attributes. "My dad didn’t care about how fast I was," Hillis said. "He cared about how well I could catch the football. Every time I’d miss it, he would throw it harder."
Those games of catch between father and son will make Hillis one of the most indispensable components of Arkansas’ offense this season. "He’s going to be a big part of our offense," Nutt said. "He’s going to be used at tailback, fullback, wide receiver and tight end. He’s going to be doing a little bit of everything. As far as splitting out and playing tight end, we’ve never had a back since I’ve been here that was that talented.
" I knew he could run the ball. I saw him run and told the other coaches that he was fast enough to run the ball in the middle of the field. We thought we’d use him in short yardage and as a blocking back. "
Hillis’ high school credentials proved he could tote the mail. He tallied obscene numbers during his senior year at Conway, running roughshod over any hapless defender that intersected his path.
Hillis amassed 2,631 rushing yards, averaging 10.1 yards per attempt. He authored 29 touchdowns, including nine of 55 or more yards. Hillis ’ yardage was second in Arkansas Class AAAAA history, behind teammate De’Arrius Howard’s 2,746.
The pass-catching chops Hillis flashed last season has diversified his role in Arkansas ’ offense. Hillis caught 12 passes for 97 yards last year in limited action, including an 18-yard touchdown catch against Alabama. The circus catch saw Hillis pluck the poorly-thrown ball from the sky amid a host of Tide defenders.
He also showed he had a nose for the goal line, scoring eight touchdowns, which tied him with Thomas Brown of Georgia for the most touchdowns by an SEC freshman.
" From 3 or 4 yards out, or 7 or 8 yards out, he’s a threat to score, "said Houston Nutt, Arkansas’ head coach." He’s been the most consistent player we’ve had at catching the ball. "When the ball is in the air, and it’s going to number 22, you know he’s going to catch it. He’s going to be used in a variety of different ways. He won’t come off the field much."
A broken back was the only thing that kept Hillis off the field last year. But the injury allowed Hillis to display another of his myriad attributes, resiliency. He broke his L1, L2 and L3 vertebrae at Florida, the fifth game of the season. Doctors surmised that the malady would idle Hillis for six to eight weeks, but Hillis rebuffed that prognosis when he returned three weeks later to play against Georgia.
He said he’s made a full recovery, saving for some lingering stiffness that he said will be with him the rest of his life. Hillis doesn’t lament the residual effects of his injury. He knows it’s unavoidable part of the game. "Football’s a man’s game," Hillis said. "It’s not for kids. There is a 100-percent chance that you’re going to get hurt. You have to play through injuries like that.
" I was worried about getting back on the field last year. They weren’t going to give me a medical redshirt because I had already played in five games. I got back on the field as fast as I could, so I wouldn’t lose the whole year. "
The diversity of Hillis’ role this season will force him to adapt to a different game plan each week. He said he’ll have to meet with Danny Nutt early in the week to find out exactly how he will be deployed for the upcoming game.
" It seems like the whole offensive scheme has changed this year, "Hillis said." They want me to use my strength to catch the ball over the middle. They think I can use my size and strength to out-muscle defensive backs. They know I can go over the middle and take the hits. "
Hillis is not only adaptable, but he also has the ability to put football in its proper perspective. Last year when Arkansas suffered a heartbreaking, 22-20 loss to Texas, morose wasn’t a strong enough descriptive to explain how somber the mood was in the locker room.
Those in the Arkansas camp didn’t take the loss well. Their faces and words manifested their disappointment. Hillis, however, was one of the few people who didn’t indulge in the post-game pity party.
" Football makes men what they are, "Hillis said." You win some. You lose some. It’s OK to be upset, but if you give 100 percent, you don’t have anything to feel bad about. You be a man, and you move on. "