NFL COMBINE: Tech’s Stephen Hill runs 40 in 4.3 seconds
Georgia Tech wide receiver Stephen Hill at the NFL scouting combine. (D. Orlando Ledbetter/DLedbetter@ajc.com)
INDIANAPOLIS — Georgia Tech wide receiver Stephen Hill said he planned to set the track ablaze at the NFL scouting combine and he came through with the promise.
Considered a fourth-round prospect before the combine, Hill improved his draft status by running the 40-yard dash in a dazzling 4.3 seconds on Sunday.
His second run was a 4.31 seconds, both are the fastest times so far at the combine.
Since declaring for the draft Jan. 5, Hill spent most of his time at the IMG training facility in Bradenton, Fla. He worked out with other draft hopefuls such as quarterback Russell Wilson from Wisconsin, quarterback Kirk Cousins and Rutgers wide receiver Mohamed Sanu.
Now, he likely won’t have to run the 40-yard dash at Tech’s pro day on March 6. He also spent time getting tutored by former Falcons wide receiver Terance Mathis, who was helping him with his route-running.
“I look more at small wideouts because I want to be the 6-4 wide receiver playing at 5-10,” said Hill, who said he’s talked to 25 of the 32 teams. “Coming out of my breaks, that’s my biggest thing that I’m trying to work on now.”
Among those training him in Florida was renowned speed coach Loren Seagrave.
Before the combine, Hill said, “I want to run a 4.4. But I feel like I can run a 4.3.”
At last year’s combine, four wide receivers ran in the 4.3 range (including Falcons draft pick Julio Jones) and 11 in the 4.4 range (including former Georgia star A.J. Green, now with Cincinnati.)
Tweet
–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog
Get instant updates on Twitter at AJCFalcons and you can join the Facebook Fan page at AJC Falcons.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
193 comments Add your comment
Northern Bird
February 27th, 2012
12:16 pm
DOL, please stop wasting space on the FALCONS tab of your website with Georgia and GT player updates. I DON’T CARE
Northern Bird
February 27th, 2012
12:19 pm
Unless the Falcons are actually targeting these guys in the draft – put these posts on the college tab, not the Falcons one. Post stories on here about FALCONS players, and potential draft choices for the Falcons.
PLEASE !!!
George Stein
February 27th, 2012
12:20 pm
You have the option not to click on the link, Northern Bird.
1 4 GT
February 27th, 2012
1:23 pm
Tell him George! I try hard in life not to say what I am about to say, but here goes. If there is such a thing as pure, unadulterated hatred, that is what I have for the idiotic troll that calls himself WnE. He is truly an energy vacuum and a total waste of the pleasure his parents had when he was conceived. I imagine they regret that particular time of wedded bliss to their dieing days. If there was ever a person that deserved to cease being, it is him/her. WnE, please just GO AWAY and put everyone else out of our misery. I hope most of us do like I do. When I see your ID, I scroll right on thru you.
GTfan2012
February 27th, 2012
1:24 pm
WnE, I love how your story on Marlon Brown and Stephen Hill CHANGED! Marlon Brown was OFFERED a scholarship at UGA many months before Stephen Hill, if Stephen Hill ever even had a committable offer from UGA (that’s not even clear). Hill was a late bloomer in football, Marlon Brown was an early bloomer. But YOU said that Stephen Hill was more sought after than Marlon Brown by UGA!!! Yet you provide NO PROOF and in fact the FACTS actually say something different.
WnE, you have no credibility.
1 4 GT
February 27th, 2012
1:25 pm
I am currently watching the Mecum auto auction out of Monterey, Ca. and the 1931 Indy 500 winner went for $2,000,000.
GT Fan
February 27th, 2012
1:53 pm
George Stein,
WnE did provide proof/evidence. Didn’t you read WnE’s post where he says PJ “pops in 25-30 yr old tapes of Hawaii throwing 30 times per game in the WAC”
I guess we all know now that WnE is in fact on PJ’s recruiting team, and is actually PJ’s right-hand-man when talking to a recruit’s parents.
That WnE sure is funny!
GT Fan
February 27th, 2012
1:54 pm
This just in! ………..
WnE is the smartest person he knows!
gtkenz
February 27th, 2012
2:05 pm
WnE,
Someone woke up ill today. Hill made a few nice catches for Tech. He made a ton of great blocks for Tech. Having a fast 40 time doesn’t translate into NFL greatness. Hill would have benefited from another season at Tech. He dropped a lot of balls at Tech. Balls that you cannot drop in the NFL and stay employed. He may surprise us all, but I seriously doubt CPJ had anything to do with his decision to go pro early. More like grades and school.
WnE
February 27th, 2012
2:10 pm
re:
WnE,
Someone woke up ill today. Hill made a few nice catches for Tech. He made a ton of great blocks for Tech. Having a fast 40 time doesn’t translate into NFL greatness. Hill would have benefited from another season at Tech. He dropped a lot of balls at Tech. Balls that you cannot drop in the NFL and stay employed. He may surprise us all, but I seriously doubt CPJ had anything to do with his decision to go pro early. More like grades and school.
_________________
Typical icehole GT fan!
Always playing the Academics cards as an excuse as to WHY a SA no longer wants anything to do with GT & Coach Kung Fu Panda!
Hill & his father disagree with you!
They don’t think another yr. of jump ball passes & smoke routes will get him more ready for the NFL.
And this weekend in Indy PROVES they were correct!
WnE
February 27th, 2012
2:19 pm
GTfan2012
February 27th, 2012
1:24 pm
WnE, I love how your story on Marlon Brown and Stephen Hill CHANGED! Marlon Brown was OFFERED a scholarship at UGA many months before Stephen Hill, if Stephen Hill ever even had a committable offer from UGA (that’s not even clear). Hill was a late bloomer in football, Marlon Brown was an early bloomer. But YOU said that Stephen Hill was more sought after than Marlon Brown by UGA!!! Yet you provide NO PROOF and in fact the FACTS actually say something different.
WnE, you have no credibility.
_______________
If your poor knowledge of GT FB is so lacking that you don’t even remember the big celebration when GT “beat out” UGA for Stephen Hill, then you’re the one that has no credibility.
YES, S. Hill did have an offer from CMR & UGA, an offer he now REGRETS that he turned down!
Also I never said that Hill was more sought after than Brown (one was 4* the other a 5*), I did say that CMR had them rated about equal since he told them the offer was out there for ONE WR and whichever Recruit commits first the scholly is his.
Hill was 4* Recruit, are you sure you want to call him a “late bloomer” in your attempt to make CPJ look as if he “made S.Hill what he is today”?
Boy, the lengths(i.e. LIES) that the GT fanbase will go to defend CPJ!
DogSTILE
February 27th, 2012
2:35 pm
“WnE”, you must not like CPJ right? Then get to hell of this blog and go to the Georgia State side!!
YESitWOod
February 27th, 2012
2:39 pm
It would be nice if CPJ could pick it up a little (a lot) and give us something at GT!! Iknow this is UGA state but this REdickULAS.
George Stein
February 27th, 2012
2:40 pm
I love how WnE won’t even acknowledge what I say. Guess he knows when daddy’s home.
George Stein
February 27th, 2012
2:42 pm
Hill was a four star player by Scout. Rivals & ESPN both had him as a three star, by the way.
Flo=Ri-Duh
February 27th, 2012
2:44 pm
Let’s not forget that Hill actually committed and signed with UGA but changed his mind and Richt did what Paul Johnson would not do. Let him out of his contract. If Hill had stayed with Richt he might be a 2nd round pick instead of a sleeper.
WnE
February 27th, 2012
2:51 pm
Would you consider that a late bloomer like that other GT fan, that obviously doesn’t follow GT FB?
George Stein
February 27th, 2012
2:56 pm
Check your facts, Flo=Ri-Duh.
We’re talking about you, WnE.
WnE
February 27th, 2012
3:12 pm
Sorry Steinie, but you should know that I don’t use multiple screen names, also I clearly know that Hill never signed with CMR and never committed with CMR, but that CMR tried very hard to get him after he de-committed from UCF.
You should have known that’s not me from simply reading the facts as he presented them.
GTfan2012
February 27th, 2012
3:14 pm
Here is WnE’s OWN WORDS earlier in this comments section:
“BTW, Coach Spray Tan Recruited S. Hill BEFORE he Recruited Marlon Brown, after Hill turned down UGA CMR then went and got M. Brown so even though Brown was 5* & Hill was 4* CMR would have rather had the ELITE ATHLETICISM.”
This does not match what you said above, WnE. THIS IS A LIE!!!!!!! You made it up to support your own pathetic arguments. Stephen Hill was not officially offered by UGA until late January 2009. Here is the Link.
http://recruiting.scout.com/a.z?s=73&p=2&c=833764&ssf=1&RequestedURL=http%3a%2f%2frecruiting.scout.com%2f2%2f833764.html
George Stein
February 27th, 2012
3:23 pm
I don’t recall ever alleging you did use multiple handles, WnE.
GTfan2012
February 27th, 2012
3:23 pm
By the way, WnE… you are clearly showing your lack of knowledge on football recruiting if you claim Stephen Hill was not a late bloomer in football. Prior to his Senior year in HS, he was primarily a track star. He had a couple of good camps in the summer and started to get some major interest. Then he blew up in football his senior year. That’s the definition of a late bloomer for footbal recruiting. And by the way, he didn’t get his 4th star until the late rankings after his senior football season. For someone who boldly puts his opinions out there for all see, you have a surprising lack of knowledge of the subjects you opine about.
Brad
February 27th, 2012
3:29 pm
Flop in COllege, Flop in the Pros. Speed is only 1 aspect of the game.
George Stein
February 27th, 2012
3:35 pm
They can’t ask for the check back, Brad. I hope he gets paid.
GTfan2012
February 27th, 2012
3:37 pm
Brad, you are right, leaping ability and explosiveness are two other important aspects. And Stephen Hill has both of those, too (see his 11′ broad jump and 40″ vertical).
GTBoy
February 27th, 2012
4:07 pm
A plain and simple path for Mr. Hill.
He showed a lot of promise at GT. Didn’t deliver consistently (possibly due to lack of repetition at game speed). Game experience is the best experience there is in sports. Never had a consistent throwing quarterback that could deliver the ball in routine fashion. Timing always seemed to be an issue with Washington and Nesbitt. Could have possibly been more prolific at a more pass centric school but we’ll never know.
Bottom line is he chose a path that he feels best meets his needs and desires at this stage in his career/life. As a lifelong GT fan I support him and wish him all the luck. Like one other commenter said. Get paid and come back to finish your formal education in the off season. You will need it after you finish in the NFL.
Paddy
February 27th, 2012
4:22 pm
Ramblin Man…….those blocks you say are illegal are called cut blocks. They are legal by rule. Nice try!
GT Grad
February 27th, 2012
4:46 pm
Impressive stats…but lets see him play vs legit cornerbacks in the nfl
WS
February 27th, 2012
4:54 pm
Speed does not make a receiver. Does anyone remember Gerald Tinker. World class 100, didnt stay in football three years.First round busted by our beloved Falcons. Bolden Ran only 4.6 at combine. is he a good receiver.
This has become a blog for UGA and Tech fans to fuss. Who cares. Falcons doesn’t draft players for UGA or Tech. Last year they did with Dent, Walker about three years ago in seventh round. The last player that was drafted high from either school was Booking. That was by Reeves. Wonder boy likes to draft from MOU or Montana State.
WnE
February 27th, 2012
4:58 pm
I like big w0ngs and I’m not gonna lie. I am really just mad because after a busy day of lawyering my boyfriend won’t give it to me all the time. I like for them go go hard and deep.
Jason Marcus
February 27th, 2012
4:59 pm
Wrexie, it is alright. I will come over and we can play hide the football with each other. And by football I mean I will give it to you as hard as you want it.
WnE
February 27th, 2012
5:14 pm
Re: WS
Gerald Tinker was a bout 5-8 170 pounds soaking wet, a far cry from 6-4 215lbs with a 40in vertical leap.
Ramblin Man
February 27th, 2012
5:29 pm
Since I am bored I will bite again at WeeNiE. Hill was a 4 star by one site and a 3 by all others and you have pointed this out in the past as a negative of other recruits. Please stick to one story as you look stupid every time you flip. Where are you getting all this information on Hill? You keep saying Hill and his Father chose to leave GT because of CPJ and the option. Please post a link to when he or his father said this because I can’t find it. I know you like to stalk this gets so maybe he tweeted it to you, you know like the great relationship you have with Vad Lee. Maybe Hill would have shined in another O or maybe his ball dropping would have had him ride the pine, we will never know. Well we idiot fans will never know and not the great all knowing that is you. You have no facts to back any of this up as it is your opinion, which I will grant you have the right to have, but it is only an opinion and not the cold truth you want people to have. If you would post once and argue if you had a fact other posters would actuallu respect you instead of looking upon you as the crazed, obsessed, stalker you are.
Ramblin Man
February 27th, 2012
5:30 pm
Nice lie again as you have been called out and shown to use multiple screen names by the Authors of these blogs.
Ramblin Man
February 27th, 2012
5:38 pm
Paddy I was responding to Just Saying who said that CPJ only teaches illegal blocking schemes.
TechSux
February 27th, 2012
5:57 pm
Stephen Hill doesnt play no where near 4.31 on film and he drops balls. You’d be a fool to take him in the first 2 rounds because he trained for a 40 and ran fast.
TechSux
February 27th, 2012
6:32 pm
Please, the kid is overrated. UGA shut him down every year we played him. His game speed is more 4.5 and he drops everything but his “train for combine 40″ speed is 4.31. He’s a project, you’re a fool if you take him before the 4th round.
IL Jacket
February 27th, 2012
7:33 pm
D. Orlando, I would say Stephen Hill made himself some serious money today. Depending on needs of the individual teams I would say he should be gone by the end of the second round. So much for the pre-draft evalutation, huh?
Congratulations to Mr. Hill. He obviously has worked hard to get to here and hopefully he will find a place like Thomas and Calvin where he can be a big part of the offense immediately.
Vulture
February 27th, 2012
8:51 pm
MrSux,
Nice name selection. I’m sure that your dad is proud.
GTfan2012
February 27th, 2012
8:52 pm
Hey Ramblin Man, we need to keep hammering WnE on his lies. He makes up stuff just fit his argument. Like claiming that CPJ lies to recruits by showing them tapes of his time at Hawaii OR Saying that UGA was always hot and heavy after Stephen Hill because he was the most amazing WR talent in Georgia HS in 2008.
Those are lies that he made up to fit his argument. We need to keep highlighting this so no one will believe his crap.
Brad
February 28th, 2012
1:07 pm
Great stats!! And that is against ACC teams!! 1000 yds receiving and 12 TDs in 3 years!!!!! BUST BUST BUST. Mark my words!!!
SEASON REC YDS AVG LNG TD ATT YDS AVG LNG TD
2011 28 820 29.3 82 5 4 29 7.3 24 0
2010 15 291 19.4 79 3 3 34 11.3 16 0
2009 6 137 22.8 53 1 5 84 16.8 26 1
GTfan2012
February 28th, 2012
2:46 pm
Brad, crawl back in your red and black hole. UGA has had so many underachieving players its pathetic. UGA is a 5-star graveyard. Stephen Hill will be drafted in the NFL in the first two rounds. After that its up to him to work hard and be successful. GT helped him get to where he is by making him the primary WR this year. He led the nation in ypc because of this offense. Now I believe he can combine hard work and his incredible athleticism to be a success in the NFL.
Hamad Meander
February 28th, 2012
3:50 pm
Hill’s 4.3 in the 40 makes me wonder how Ga Tech keeps spitting out these big fast receivers? Could it be that running from practice to your car on Tech’s campus without getting mugged makes for faster players? This is not a dig – I am a Tech fan, but dang, if Hill’s hands were as good as his legs, we’d be talking top 5 pick.