Hill-Murray Returning Athletes You NEED to Know

Hill-Murray was an incredibly young team last season, and as such, they return a TON of talent ahead of next season. Hill-Murray is loaded at a bunch of different positions, and I've found a bunch of athletes that are looking like they'll shoot up recruiting boards either this offseason or during next fall. Meet some of them!    A three-sport athlete (Football/Soccer/Hockey) who had a stellar year as a specialist for the Pioneers, Curtis is a kicker who needs to be watched ahead of his senior season. On his tape, he's able to reliably able to kick touchbacks, usually around 62-65 yards, but with a peak of 72 yards. On PATs, Curtis is expectedly automatic. He's made field goals from 40 yards with room to spare as well. Curtis could be an interesting stock riser ahead of his senior season.     A three-sport athlete (Football/Hockey/Baseball), Buettner is fresh off a breakout sophomore campaign that saw him rush for just under 1,400 yards with 15 TDs. His tape is extremely encouraging. Buettner possesses quick cut ability, and when paired with his standout ball carrier vision, he can find run lanes at the LOS with ease. In particular, I love his contact balance. Buettner is often contacted a number of times early on in the play, but finds a way to make defenders miss or bounce off of them. Buettner looks to be a problem and should definitely be an athlete to keep an eye on going forward.     A dual-threat athlete for the Pioneers last season as a tight end and as a defensive end, Reeves racked up over 300 receiving yards and 9 TDs on offense, and 6 sacks on defense throughout his sophomore season. He's got a great frame at 6'3", but moves far better at that size than most TEs, especially among his class. Reeves has great hands and can maximize his already impressive catch radius with a solid vert. Reeves is a gigantic mismatch for LBs, and Hill-Murray doesn't hesitate to use the sophomore anywhere on the field. His quick release off the line and ball-tracking ability make him a problem as a receiving threat. I can't wait to see what Reeves does during his junior campaign.     A varsity starter at LT as only a sophomore, Walker is another Hill-Murray 2028 that reeks of potential. At 6'1", 260 lbs with a 4.2 GPA, Walker is an intriguing prospect, even more so when you dive into his tape. He moves well for a young prospect of that size, often not struggling to make tough reach blocks. He does a great job of pushing defensive linemen down the LOS. Walker has stout pass pro as well, showing off surprisingly fast feet while clamping agile defenders trying to bend the edge. He also saw a lot of time as a DT for the Pioneers, where his low pad level and explosive get off allowed him to wreak havoc in the backfield of his opponents. I could see big things in the future for Walker.     One of the most promising athletes in the class of 2028, Dornan is an explosive wideout whose tape is full of jaw-dropping moments. Touting solid speed with fantastic athleticism, Dornan is generally a mismatch for any DB on the field. He's got an insane vert and will come down with the ball despite getting rocked in the process. He flashes his hands late and has some of the best ball tracking I've seen. Dornan also sees a lot of time playing corner. On defense, he's got great ball skills and closes quickly on wideouts once the ball is in the air. He also has considerable upside as a kick/punt returner. I'm excited to see more of Dornan in 2026.     A varsity starter at QB for the Pioneers as only a freshman, Hartmann threw for 1,100 yards and 18 TDs while only throwing 3 INTs and winning All-District HM honors. His arm strength is incredibly uncommon for his age. He shows no issues pushing the ball downfield and even leads receivers on deep balls. He's made a number of throws that are perfectly dropped into the wideout's breadbasket, despite the windows being extremely tight. He's exceptionally calm in the pocket, even when it's collapsing, and will even take a big hit if it means delivering a dime downfield. His pocket mobility shows flashes of high-level play, and he's capable of making high-level throws on the run. I'm pumped to see what Hartmann can accomplish over the next couple of years.     A JV RB last season due to transfer rules, Warner is someone who could be on breakout watch during his junior year next season. On his sophomore tape, Warner looks quick and explosive. In particular, he's a giant problem when he's returning kicks. Warner has standout vision, and once he hits his stride in the open field, he can gash defenses for massive chunk gains. I was also very impressed with his ability to find run lanes, especially when the play is breaking down and getting tackled seems inevitable. I hope we get to see him on the cam circuit throughout the offseason.     An underrated OLB who also sees time as a wideout on offense, Deziel is another 2028 for the Pioneers who is going to return with plenty of varsity experience. He's a well-rounded LB, but his run-stopping sticks out to me especially. He does a great job of closing distance on RBs and flows well to the alley, often preventing the ball carrier from making any meaningful gains. He's patient while pursuing the ball carrier, doing a great job of tracking the near hip and erasing cutback lanes while he's closing in on the RB. Can't wait to see what he adds to his bag next season.     A three-sport athlete (Football/Hockey/Baseball) who I could see taking a significant leap next season, Will put together some great film as a freshman. For a 2029 prospect, he's already got a great frame and moves well with it. He saw time on both sides of the ball last season as both an LB and a HBack/Slotback, and had solid success at both positions. He's a hard runner, and while I would like to see him get North/South sooner, his speed allows him to beat defenders to the edge, where he can then reliably beat them upfield. He's a problem in open space, and shows off receiving upside at times too. I'm excited to see what he can do when he gets elevated to the varsity level.

Hill-Murray was an incredibly young team last season, and as such, they return a TON of talent ahead of next season. Hill-Murray is loaded at a bunch of different positions, and I've found a bunch of athletes that are looking like they'll shoot up recruiting boards either this offseason or during next fall. Meet some of them!