This will be an in-depth 2020 NFL Draft scouting report on Ohio State wide receiver K.J. Hill including team fits and round projections.
Height: 6-foot
Weight: 195 pounds
2019 stats: 51 receptions, 569 yards, 10TD, 11.2YPC.
K.J. Hill has been the most consistent player for Ohio State dating back to 2017 where he caught 56 passes for 549 yards. He probably had his best year in 2018, however, has he reeled in 70 catches for 885 yards. In four seasons at Ohio State, Hill has totaled 195 receptions, 2,003 yards and 20 touchdowns.
His body of work is impressive in itself but when you account for the number of quarterbacks Hill played with at Ohio State it’s pretty remarkable. He’s had quarterbacks with different play styles where he’s had to adjust and adapt to them. He’s gone from Cardale Jones to J.T. Barrett to Dwayne Haskins and now to the true dual-threat QB Justin Fields. All four of those quarterbacks have different play styles and Hill was forced to adjust to how they play the game.
I’ve watched a ton of Ohio State games throughout the years and K.J. Hill has been a player that I have been wanting to study on a deeper level. I went back and watched some game film of Hill to break down what has made him such a reliable receiver for the Buckeyes.
I broke down some traits that are important when evaluating a receiver. Each trait will be graded on a 20-80 scale. 20-30= well below average, 40= below average, 50= average, 60= above average and 70-80= well above average.
Hands: 65
Hill is a natural pass catcher and is as fluid as they come. He does a great job of looking the football in and securing the catch before making his way up the field. There are some negatives here which are out of his control and that is his catch radius. Hill has a small frame which limits the number of receptions he can get as the ball needs to be near perfect for him to have a chance at a reception.
Route Running: 55
I would like to see Hill do a better of getting in and out of his routes. Needs to improve versus press coverage. Hill wasn’t asked to run a bunch of routes at Ohio State as he mostly ran underneath or hitches and crossing patterns.
Hill relies mostly on his quickness and speed to get open, which isn’t a bad thing, however, he needs to work on his route tree in the next level. Hill does a great job of extending his route when his quarterback is out of the pocket which usually results in a big-time reception.
Quickness/Agility: 65
This is what makes KJ Hill a possible steal in the 2020 NFL Draft. As mentioned earlier his quickness allows him to break free of the defender when running underneath. Hill’s run after the catch ability is as impressive as anyone I’ve seen other than CeeDee Lamb.
Speed/Acceleration: 70
The NFL has a whole workout at the scouting combine for this specific trait. Everyone is in love with speed, which will sometimes backfire. When evaluating a player’s speed you cannot just look at his 40-yard time.
You must always look back at the game film to see if the player plays fast. KJ Hill definitely plays fast on the football field. There were many plays where Hill would catch the ball underneath and looked like he would be stopped short, but he would just run right past the defenders for the first down. That’s the kind of speed you look for in a player. Vertical and horizontal.
Overall: 60
Although Hill seems to grade out really well here there are still some questions about his game. Was he just a product of a high powered offense and why did he decide to stay in school for so long? The biggest thing I look at is his production at Ohio State where he now holds the record for most receptions. When you put on the game film it is undeniable the talent that Hill possesses and he still has at least one more game to go.
Pro Comparison: Julian Edelman
I’ve never seen anyone run underneath more effectively than Julian Edelman and in college, nobody has more success than Hill. Like Edelman, Hill’s routes are quick and compacted within 10-12 yards from the line of scrimmage. Edelman relied on his quickness to win in open space before mastering his skills and that is exactly what Hill has been doing at Ohio State. At 5-foot-10, 198 pounds their size is oddly similar as well.
Round projection: late 3rd early 4th round
Team Fits
New England Patriots:
This could be the last year of Tom Brady in New England, but for the chance that it’s not, they need to give him some new wide receivers to throw to. Julian Edelman is the comparison that I gave Hill and he’ll be 34 to start next season. Hill fits that system like a glove and could have a big-time role in that offense.
San Fransisco 49ers:
Another team that could use a receiver with Hill’s abilities is the Niners. They could lose Emmanuel Sanders in free agency and wouldn’t have to use a high pick to replace him. Hill could be a nice weapon for Kyle Shanahan to utilize in the quick passing game.
Dallas Cowboys:
I don’t have any doubts that Jerry Jones will lock up Amari Cooper, but Hill could be a big upgrade from Tavon Austin. Hill could take over as the primary punt and kick returner and could see some time in the slot as well. Dak Prescott needs to get the ball out of his hands more quickly and having a guy like Hill that can spring open underneath could be what this offense has been missing.
Washington Redskins:
Washington already has two former Buckeyes in their offense and could look to reunite Haskins with another familiar face. Hill, McLaurin and Haskins could ignite the high powered offense they shared together in 2018 when Haskins threw for 50 touchdowns.
Another note: Urban Meyer was seen at FedEx field last weekend watching his former quarterback with Washington owner Dan Snyder. Meyer did shut down any rumors of him ever coaching again, but it’s just hard to believe that he wouldn’t have any interest from the NFL. Having Haskins, McLaurin and Hill all coached by Urban Meyer in Washington would be nostalgic for Buckeye fans to say the least.