Recruiting Report: DeAndre Hill (2020)

Big Lake senior <strong>DeAndre Hill</strong> has taken on more responsibility this season. Prior to his senior year, Hill was an offense only player. This year – to help his team – he still plays full-time on offense, but now he also has a role on the defensive side of the ball. The season for the Hornets has been up and down so far. “We started off good this season, but then we had a three-game losing streak,” Hill explained. “We stated to get down on ourselves when something would go wrong. Last week we got together, worked hard and didn’t doubt ourselves.” When the team has played well, everything centers around the running game. “We are a run first team. If our line is going, everything is clicking,” Hill said. “Then we can pass and use our good receivers and quarterback. We can do a little bit of both. Our defense is good at stopping the run.” Like the team, Hill feels like his season has had its ups and downs. “I feel like my season has started decently. It hasn’t gone as well as I hoped, but I feel like I don’t put everything on my shoulders and just play I will have the season I want to have.” Hill – who has over 700 yards rushing through six games – knows a lot of eyes are on him this year. “I feel like I have a lot of weight on my shoulders coming into my senior year – proving myself.” Eyes are on him on both sides of the ball this season. “I mainly play running back,” Hill said, “I play safety when my team needs me.” As a running back, Hill is aware of his strengths and his weaknesses. “I feel like I have good vision and can see the holes,” the 6’2” 200-pound senior said. “If you give me an open lane, I can make the play and score at any moment. I feel like I have improved my pass blocking. That was something I needed to improve from last year.” Hill has become a situational defensive player. “I am a free safety and they like to use me on passing downs.” His added responsibilities on Friday nights added responsibilities last offseason. “I have played more defensive back this year than I have in the past,” Hill told northstarfootballnews.com. “I have usually just been an offensive guy, and I worked hard this pre-season to learn the new position. Mostly, I was working on reacting to the ball and my backpedal. On offense, I worked on learning how to run downhill better.” A two-sport athlete, Hill is in the Big Lake record book. “I ran the 100-meter dash and this year I started high jumping,” Hill – who enjoys fishing, four-wheeling and the outdoors in general - said. “For the 100-meter dash, I broke the record for my school last year and placed top five in the state.” In order to have success at the next level, Hill believes he needs to continue working on those same weaknesses. “I mainly need to keep working on my pass blocking and my agility to be able to cut back and forth – just be a faster player overall.” Some of the top schools in the Midwest have been in contact with the senior. “Minnesota, Iowa, Iowa State, Michigan State, and Notre Dame were talking to me and sending me stuff.” Hill said he felt the coaches have liked his explosiveness. “They said they saw me as a playmaker. Every time I get the ball, I had a chance to score.” Big Lake hopes every time Hill touches the ball – which will be a lot – he has a chance to score too.