2019 NFL Draft: Oklahoma State’s Justice Hill has sneaky potential
By John Scimeca
Oklahoma State running back Justice Hill was held back a bit in 2018 by a rib injury. Where will he fall in the upcoming NFL Draft?
Cowboys running back Justice Hill disappointed his junior season, his final in Stillwater, mainly due to a rib injury that held him completely out of two games. That shouldn’t hold him back on the NFL Draft boards, however.
After leading all freshmen rushers in the country with 1,142 yards in 2016, Hill established himself as one of the Big 12’s premier running backs. Hill led the Big 12 in rushing as a sophomore, gaining 1,467 yards, and he has rushed for 5.5 yards or more per carry in each of his three seasons as a Cowboy.
The Tulsa, Okla. native was a 2017 Academic All-American and a two-time All-Big 12 selection. Last year, he rushed 930 yards and nine touchdowns, averaging 5.9 yards per carry in an injury-shortened season. Hill voluntarily sat out the Cowboys’ bowl game victory against Missouri.
Will Hill join the pantheon of OSU greats along with Barry Sanders, Thurman Thomas, or Bob Fenimore? That remains to be seen.
Strengths
Hill’s impressive yards-per-carry allays concern about his overall lack of production compared to other top-flight running backs in this year’s draft class. An interesting wrinkle that could emerge from Hill’s usage in the college is as a pass-catching back. In 2017, he caught 31 passes in 190 yards as part of an offense that is not known to heavily feature running backs in the passing game.
Hill also impressed at the NFL Combine, being one of the few running backs to run a 4.4 40 and to vertically jump 40 inches. His athleticism is unquestioned, and his ability to absorb blows between the tackles has been shown in his three-year college career. Scoring 15 touchdowns in 2017 as part of a pass-heavy offense is a significant accomplishment, as well.
Weaknesses
Hill is undersized at 5-foot-10, 190 pounds, leading to concerns about pass blocking and overall durability in the NFL. There is also chatter that he may not have enough breakaway speed to produce as an NFL running back, the kind of “next level” speed that can break big plays.
Others may also point to some of Hill’s mechanics as a runner, with fears that he may not coordinate well with downfield blockers and that his field vision is below average.
NFL Draft: Projected first round. dark. Next
Draft Expectations
What is the value of a tough running back in today’s NFL? Hill is a physical interior runner who is elusive enough to break tackles. Injury history and potential injury-prone status shouldn’t dog Hill too much, though his size does concern some NFL scouts.
What may delay Hill’s selection in the NFL Draft is a league-wide trend moving away from the bell cow running back and to more high-octane passing offenses built on operating in space.