Bruce Wayne
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Senior Appreciation: http://4te.ch/seniors2014
Mr. Deon Hill of Phenix City Alabama was rated a 3* Running Back when Charles Kelly recruited him out of Central HS; the same high school from which Orwin Smith was recruited to Tech the year before. Rivals only lists his other offers as having been from Tulane and Utah State (covering an oddly wide expanse geographically speaking). Regardless, he had a great HS career at Central where he rushed for 1,587 yards as a senior and scored 18 TDs which tied the school record. He was named All-State in Alabama and--possibly most significantly--Deon was named a Team Captain.
At Tech Hill redshirted his first year and then in 2011 he played in every game on special teams (where he excelled) and as a back-up AB. Deon had a knack through his entire Tech career of making the most of every single opportunity he had so his only rushing attempt of the season fittingly scored a TD. In his RS-Sophomore year of 2012 Hill again played in every game and had 10 chances with the ball (6 runs and 4 receptions) and once again he made them count, to the tune of 6.7 ypc and a TD on a pass. That TD was particularly memorable as it was a 10-yard score that gave the Jackets a 17-14 lead against the Hokies with 44 seconds left in the game (which Tech lost in OT).
In Hill's RS-Junior season of 2013 he only played in 9 games (started 3) because of the onset of an incurable disease causing chronic inflammation of the GI tract. Like with others in his recruiting class Hill was suddenly faced with significant adversity, and to make it worse it had nothing to do with the physically demanding and rough sport of football or the rigors of the academics at Tech. But, also like his confreres, Deon would not be deterred or defeated: “The feeling of the disease felt pretty bad,” said Hill. “I got real discouraged at times, but I try to keep a smile on my face no matter what.” Even battling a serious disease just to be able to play at the highest levels of college football in no way changed Hill's personality and character from a "team-first" attitude towards one of "look at me" or "woe is me." In the same article just quoted his head coach had this to say: “He's never tried to use that as a ‘Hey, look what I've done, look what I've overcome, or I'm battling this,'” said Johnson. “He's just showed up and played like he always has.”
As a result, Hill was still able to average 9.2 yards a carry and tack on another TD reception for the 2013 season.
Deon saved the best for last. In his RS SR season of 2014 he played in all 14 games and had a career high in chances (34 rushes and 10 receptions) resulting in 6.8 ypc and 3 TDs and 17.8 yards per reception with one TD. Once again that TD catch was a big one as it was a game-winner with 23 seconds left against GA Southern. Another significant TD for Hill came with 11:43 left against Miami from 8 yards out on a 4th and 2 to effectively put the game on ice. These two scores also occurred on the same patch of goal-line grass as discussed by Ken Suguira here and Ken breaksdown the Miami TD here. He even received national recognition for his battle with Crohn's as he was nominated for the Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award
His Twitter account reflects his humility as it informs us that he clearly puts family first (their picture and not his dominates the header) and that in his opinion he is: "Just a guy with big dreams." He is off to a great start at achieving his big dreams after graduating Tech with a degree in Management and Yellow Jacket fans everywhere have no doubt his great achievements in life have only just begun.
CAREER HIGHS
Rushing Attempts: 6, at Tulane, Sept. 6, 2014
Yards Rushing: 56 at Georgia, Nov. 29, 2014
Longest Rush: 24 at Miami, Oct. 5, 2013
Rushing Touchdowns: 1, five times - last time vs. Virginia, Nov. 1, 2014
Receptions: 3, vs. Duke, Oct. 11, 2014
Receiving Yards: 48, vs. Duke, Oct. 11, 2014
Longest Reception: 47 at North Carolina, Oct. 18, 2014
Receiving Touchdowns: 1, three times - last time vs. Georgia Southern, Sept. 13, 2014
Mr. Deon Hill of Phenix City Alabama was rated a 3* Running Back when Charles Kelly recruited him out of Central HS; the same high school from which Orwin Smith was recruited to Tech the year before. Rivals only lists his other offers as having been from Tulane and Utah State (covering an oddly wide expanse geographically speaking). Regardless, he had a great HS career at Central where he rushed for 1,587 yards as a senior and scored 18 TDs which tied the school record. He was named All-State in Alabama and--possibly most significantly--Deon was named a Team Captain.
At Tech Hill redshirted his first year and then in 2011 he played in every game on special teams (where he excelled) and as a back-up AB. Deon had a knack through his entire Tech career of making the most of every single opportunity he had so his only rushing attempt of the season fittingly scored a TD. In his RS-Sophomore year of 2012 Hill again played in every game and had 10 chances with the ball (6 runs and 4 receptions) and once again he made them count, to the tune of 6.7 ypc and a TD on a pass. That TD was particularly memorable as it was a 10-yard score that gave the Jackets a 17-14 lead against the Hokies with 44 seconds left in the game (which Tech lost in OT).
In Hill's RS-Junior season of 2013 he only played in 9 games (started 3) because of the onset of an incurable disease causing chronic inflammation of the GI tract. Like with others in his recruiting class Hill was suddenly faced with significant adversity, and to make it worse it had nothing to do with the physically demanding and rough sport of football or the rigors of the academics at Tech. But, also like his confreres, Deon would not be deterred or defeated: “The feeling of the disease felt pretty bad,” said Hill. “I got real discouraged at times, but I try to keep a smile on my face no matter what.” Even battling a serious disease just to be able to play at the highest levels of college football in no way changed Hill's personality and character from a "team-first" attitude towards one of "look at me" or "woe is me." In the same article just quoted his head coach had this to say: “He's never tried to use that as a ‘Hey, look what I've done, look what I've overcome, or I'm battling this,'” said Johnson. “He's just showed up and played like he always has.”
As a result, Hill was still able to average 9.2 yards a carry and tack on another TD reception for the 2013 season.
Deon saved the best for last. In his RS SR season of 2014 he played in all 14 games and had a career high in chances (34 rushes and 10 receptions) resulting in 6.8 ypc and 3 TDs and 17.8 yards per reception with one TD. Once again that TD catch was a big one as it was a game-winner with 23 seconds left against GA Southern. Another significant TD for Hill came with 11:43 left against Miami from 8 yards out on a 4th and 2 to effectively put the game on ice. These two scores also occurred on the same patch of goal-line grass as discussed by Ken Suguira here and Ken breaksdown the Miami TD here. He even received national recognition for his battle with Crohn's as he was nominated for the Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award
His Twitter account reflects his humility as it informs us that he clearly puts family first (their picture and not his dominates the header) and that in his opinion he is: "Just a guy with big dreams." He is off to a great start at achieving his big dreams after graduating Tech with a degree in Management and Yellow Jacket fans everywhere have no doubt his great achievements in life have only just begun.
CAREER HIGHS
Rushing Attempts: 6, at Tulane, Sept. 6, 2014
Yards Rushing: 56 at Georgia, Nov. 29, 2014
Longest Rush: 24 at Miami, Oct. 5, 2013
Rushing Touchdowns: 1, five times - last time vs. Virginia, Nov. 1, 2014
Receptions: 3, vs. Duke, Oct. 11, 2014
Receiving Yards: 48, vs. Duke, Oct. 11, 2014
Longest Reception: 47 at North Carolina, Oct. 18, 2014
Receiving Touchdowns: 1, three times - last time vs. Georgia Southern, Sept. 13, 2014
