Choosing to opt-out of the 2020 college football season after appearing in just three games for Mississippi State, Kylin Hill will look to join a large number of former Bulldogs in the NFL. A three-year starter, he remains a patient runner who can wait for blocks to develop with his quick feet inside the tackle box. Along with this, he can also utilize an effective burst to hit the hole with speed while also remaining agile enough to squeeze through different rushing lanes.
Possessing solid hands as a receiver out of the backfield, Hill hauled in 67 receptions for over 600 yards and six touchdowns during his three-year college tenure. Furthermore, the 22-year-old can square up blitzers when blocking in pass protection with outstanding vision and hand placement.
Player Bio
Name: Kylin Hill
Jersey: #8
Position: Running back
School: Mississippi State
Class: Senior
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 214 lbs
Vision (8.5/10)
A prototypical north and south runner, Hill is most effective when running in between the tackles. Improving his patience throughout his time with the Bulldogs, he can wait for blocks to develop. He can also bounce runs to the outside while maintaining the ability to find the smallest of creases to get to the second level. Averaging over five yards per carry in all three of his college seasons, he can move help move the chains for any NFL franchise.
Agility (7.5/10)
Running a 4.51 40-yard dash at his pro day, Hill does not possess the speed to blow past or outrun opposing defenders. However, with strong contact balance and agility, he utilizes an effective cut-back move to shake off tacklers and extend runs. He can also vault over defenders if they choose to go low to tackle. Through this, he maintains the ability to lower his shoulder and push the pile.
Speed (6.5/10)
Among the slower backs in the 2021 draft class, Hill remains unlikely to outrun opposing defenders in a foot race, leading to a lack of big yardage or chunk carries. Moreover, he lacks the true breakaway pace to take the ball to the house at any given point, both as a runner and receiving option. Remaining a truly one gear rusher, he can pick up chunks of yardage and finish carries effectively; however, he will never blow a team away with his speed.
Ball Security (9/10)
Extremely effective at taking care of the football, Hill has fumbled just once on 481 touches. The running back displays excellent contact balance and strength. He can also pick up extra yards with an effective leg drive to power through opposing tackle attempts. He can hold the ball high and tight to his chest while maintaining an adequate pad level and knee bend to finish off runs.
Balance (8/10)
Hard to tackle when carrying the football, Hill is a violent runner with excellent contact balance and strength. This allowed him to fight off opposing tacklers or make them miss. Amassing over 2,500 yards on the ground during his three full seasons with the Bulldogs, Hill broke a tackle every four carries, with 116 on 452 carries.
Receiving (7/10)
Hill was limited in his route tree during his freshman to junior seasons. He made tremendous strides in limited appearances during his senior year before he ultimately opted out of the 2020 season. Highlighted by a school-record 15 receptions against the Kentucky Wildcats, he hauled in 23 receptions in three games with 10.3 yards averaged per target. Showing significant improvements as a route runner in Mike Leach‘s air raid offense, Hill should provide three-down value in any offensive scheme at the pro level.
Pass Protection (7.5/10)
A willing blocker in pass protection, Hill can identify where the opposing pressure is coming from properly. He can stand in and engage with opposing players, displaying adequate hand technique and leverage. He will need minor technique cleanup in his technique at the NFL level. Hill will sometimes drop his eyes on tape, or not properly square his body up when meeting players in the hole. This forces him to sometimes miss his initial punch.
Positional Versatility (8/10)
A versatile piece in multiple NFL schemes, Hill is best suited in an inside zone rushing scheme as a back who can chew up yards inside the tackle box. Apart from this, he has experience playing on special teams during his freshman season in college as a gunner on punt returns. He also took snaps as a slot receiver in high school and moved all over the formation during his time in Shane Waldron’s offense in college.
Strength (8.5/10)
A physical back at 214 lbs, Hill can keep his feet moving through contact, allowing him to finish off carries with extra yards. In addition to this, he is able to turn out tough yards in short-yardage situations by lowering his shoulder into the pile while pushing it forward. Violent in between the tackles, he has a low centre of gravity and can stiff-arm opposing tacklers with ease making it extremely difficult to get him on the ground.
Competitive Toughness/Effort (4/5)
Rarely brought down by first contact, Hill demonstrates outstanding effort snap in and snap out, allowing him to gain extra yards after contact. Furthermore, he also displays solid effort in pass protection while also chewing out tough yards near the goal line, and in short-yardage situations to help his team move the chains.
Injury (5/5)
The injury chart on Hill comes up clean, with no red flags popping up to affect his draft stock.
Player Summary
A member of one of the final recruiting classes of former head coach Dan Mullen, Hill landed at Mississippi State in 2017. Enjoying standout sophomore and junior seasons, he earned First-Team All-SEC honors after rushing for over 1,300 yards on 242 attempts for the team. Displaying outstanding contact balance, strength, and power as a rusher in between the tackle box, he is a physical runner. He is able to run over tacklers with effective pad level and a violent stiff arm. Hill is able to pick up extra chunks of yards by simply running over opposing players.
Hill will not “Wow” you with his route tree out of the backfield. However, the senior has made tremendous strides as a pass catcher and should provide value to any NFL team as a receiver. Best suited in a tandem-rushing role, look for Hill to be a late third-round/early fourth-round pick with tremendous value for any team in need of a running back.
Final Grade: (79.5/100) Third Round Pick
Player Comp: Mark Ingram
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