Stephen Hill draft projection
Draft expert Mel Kiper thinks former Georgia Tech wide receiver Stephen Hill would have been better served staying in school, but gives him a chance to get into the third round of the NFL draft.
“He’s going to need a strong workout to be a guy that goes on Day 2,” said the ESPN analyst, referring to the second and third rounds of the draft. At worst, Hill would go between the fourth and seventh rounds, he added.
When Hill requested an evaluation from the NFL draft advisory board, he was told that he did not have the potential to be drafted in the first three rounds. Working to Hill’s benefit is that he has the capability to impress NFL scouts in a workout. As a high school senior at Miller Grove High, Hill set the state high school long jump record.
Kiper said he was surprised when Hill decided to leave Tech after his junior season shortly after the Yellow Jackets’ season ended because another year could have elevated him “maybe in the first-round discussion.”
“I thought staying at Georgia Tech would have been a benefit to him,” he said.
Among other Tech’s other draft-eligible players, including defensive linemen Jason Peters and Logan Walls, linebacker Steven Sylvester, A-back Roddy Jones, safety Rashaad Reid and wide receiver Tyler Melton, Kiper said he did not have any of them with a grade would ensure them being drafted.
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123 comments Add your comment
gtfanfrom1951
January 23rd, 2012
12:53 pm
stephen hill = drop passes enough said
William Satterwhite
January 23rd, 2012
12:53 pm
Jay, Georgia Tech only threw the ball 167 times period this past season, even in a fantasy world where Tech’s QBs could match the all-time single season record for passing percentage (76%) there are still “only” around 85-75 catches to divvy up between the two wide receivers when you consider that almost half of the passes (if not more) are also going out to the A-backs and B-backs. Yes, that could match UGA from last season but most passing games aren’t as dramatically balanced as UGA’s- most schools are actually like us and have one or two receivers who gobble up a vast majority of the balls thrown.
Ryan
January 23rd, 2012
12:55 pm
Number of times thrown to in 2011:
88 – Tavares King (UGA)
67 – Orson Charles (UGA)
61 – Malcolm Mitchell (UGA)
54 – Stephen Hill (GT)
49 – Michael Bennett (UGA)
29 – Marlon Brown (UGA)
26 – Chris Conley (UGA)
23 – Orwin Smith (GT)
23 – Roddy Jones (GT)
20 – Tyler Melton (GT)
GIVE ME A BREAK
January 23rd, 2012
12:56 pm
If GT ever gets a good QB & receiver combo then I think we’ll get to see how much CPJ really likes to throw the ball. Maybe this season. ” GO JACKETS “
reebok
January 23rd, 2012
12:57 pm
Stephen Hill leaving is a blessing for the Jackets. It gives the young receivers a chance to prove themselves. I’d much rather have a less-gifted guy who can actually catch the ball out there, rather than Stone Hands Hill…
GIVE ME A BREAK
January 23rd, 2012
12:59 pm
Balance the comments about UGA passing with the fact that UGA had trouble rushing and GT didn’t.
Stinger 2
January 23rd, 2012
1:02 pm
Maybe CPJ will finally realize he needs to add more passing to his offense if Vad Lee becomes the starter.
If this happens and if the receivers can do better at catching the ball, the offense might open up to the point that opposing defenses cannot not stack just for runs.
Ecconomics
January 23rd, 2012
1:04 pm
Stephen Hill gets drafted in the 5th round and makes a team, salary equals $390,000.00 at the least. How many of you stay in school bloggers will make that next year. Even if he doesn’t make a team, the practice squad will pay more than most of you will make in the next two years. While i do value an education, i also understand basic math. 390k is a lot greater than $0 if he stays at Tech. Draft status will not change, because he will be the primary reciever, even if he makes catches team will begin to double him then CPJ will go back to the running game. Worse case he doesn’t make the NFL, more than likely he can still return to tech for academics, or any other State College to finish school, even if it means getting student loans then joining the work force like you idiot bloggers. FOllow your dreams young MAN…
QB/DB
January 23rd, 2012
1:07 pm
Hill will surprise and be a good value, mark my word! What does a fourth round draft pick make anyway, around $350.000 a year. He was not going to make that at a job in this economy. Plus stubborn CPJ was never going to come off his ego and throw the ball more. I think Roddy and Melton will surprise given the chance.
Jacket Man
January 23rd, 2012
1:09 pm
None of you know Stephen’s personal situation, so you have no right to judge him. Mel Kiper has missed on several prospects in the past, so whose to say he may be wrong with Stephen as well? No one thought Tim Tebow would be drafted in the First Round; in fact, several so called experts (I believe Mel Kiper was one of them), had pushed him back to the Third Round.
All it takes is one team to like Stephen and pull the trigger.
Jay
January 23rd, 2012
1:15 pm
Seriously
You obviously know nothing about cpj or how to read seriously.
Look at some of the navy stats. D thomas had one of the worst passers ever in football history. That is why he hasn’t thrown much. Vad and the alabama transfer will show what this offense is capable of. 60 catches, yeah that’s a average of 5 per game. So high! A good passer who throws 15 times per game and complete 10 of them, well there you go. Yeah so impossible only to an ignorant mutt fan
yall keep harping on more passing
January 23rd, 2012
1:23 pm
anyone think that cpj is or chan gailey didnt try to get a better all purpose qb in place?
as far as overall ability
tevin washington / average in all respects / better passer than josh or reggie >josh nesbitt fair to good runner / tuff / erratic passer with no touch >reggie ball wasted talent / fair runner but slow / weak erratic arm / out of control person
we have brought in at least 2 qb with a 3d the kid from bama coning this year that are all better runners than the qb above. they may all be better passers as well. they are all faster than tevin josh or reggie. they are all major talents.
plus we have an ever improving tevin back he will never be a tracy ham but one can not admit that he isnt getting better each year. he is just not THEE guy
George Stein
January 23rd, 2012
1:33 pm
Let’s assume Kiper is correct that he may have been a first round pick in 2013. If that’s true, then I think a case can be made that Hill made the right call, as the guaranteed income for 1st rounders is not nearly has high with the new CBA. The other issue is that he’ll be a year closer to free agency, which is where the real money is made.
There are, of course, no guarantees that he’ll make a team, but I understand his thinking. If I were a GM and had a chance to get a player that might go in the first round next year in the 5th round this year, I’d see a lot of value there.
5150 UOAD
January 23rd, 2012
1:34 pm
Kick Butt Stephen. Good Luck. Come back and finish your degree.
Tech Fan Since 1950
January 23rd, 2012
1:35 pm
Yes “Ecconomics” once one learns to spell, $350,000 is a lot of money for one year. Of course there is an agent’s share and a few other zeros are taken off and then you have to know how to manage the money wisely. Hopefully you can hang around the NFL more than a year or two, but you still haven’t reached the million dollar range and you have no college degree to fall back on. Be nice if these kids were all great managers, but hopefully Stephen learned something in three years at Georgia Tech and he can take care of business. Seems like a lot of NFL players blow it and then fall off the financial cliff when an injury occurs or they get cut. Better to have plans A, B, and C than just plan A.
THE DUDE
January 23rd, 2012
1:36 pm
he did the right thing, come on what would pj do for him but let him block.
GT fan
January 23rd, 2012
1:45 pm
With the “ME” mentality that so many kids possess these days I could see PJ getting at least 1 decent WR every year. If the kid really is as good as he thinks he is, or as good as everyone in high school tells him he is, then why not come to GT, be the ONLY reliable passing target, and rack up BeBe-type 09 #s (46 rec, 1154 yds, 8 tds)?
If Hill was a sure-handed WR he probably gets 5-10 more receptions this season, and at a 29.1 per catch average, puts up another 150 – 300 yds & 4-5 more tds.
But tough to build any QB-WR rapport when PJ only throws the ball 8-12 times per game.
hal
January 23rd, 2012
1:50 pm
I’ll bet it’s pressure from people around him that have nothing to do with the team.
William Satterwhite
January 23rd, 2012
1:51 pm
“Look at some of the navy stats.”
2007- 136 total pass attempts
2006- 112 total pass attempts
2005- 147 total pass attempts (with a senior QB who is currently on our staff as a coach btw)
2004- 122 total pass attempts
2003- 156 total pass attempts
2002- 159 total pass attempts
OldSchoolTechFanatic
January 23rd, 2012
2:00 pm
I thank one thing wrong with GT football is going for the homerun pass. Navy use to hit for big gains and 15 to 20 yarders. The main thing is when you pass make it hurt and then the other team will respect the run but if you go for the homerun pass every time and only hi 1 out of 30 it means nothing!!!
Richard Hungwell
January 23rd, 2012
2:10 pm
buzzwax, Thomas was a Gailey recruit when they actually had a pro style offense. Gailey offense had a better chance of developing players for the pros. Under fish face no offensive players are being groomed for the next level, qb’s, wr’s, backs or linemen. If I am a offensive player looking to go pro why would I go to Tech?
Dawgwild
January 23rd, 2012
2:16 pm
I’m a dawg fan and I hope the kid gets drafted in the 1st 3 rounds. Just saying, don’t have to hate on each other all the time.
I get it...................
January 23rd, 2012
2:19 pm
and so does Hill. I would like one of you Tekies to explain exactly how staying another year will improve his game. If he has speed and jumping ability staying is not going to improve either skill. His route running most certainly will not improve (Tek doesn’t pass enough) nor will his pass catching abilities improve.
If Hill made a mistake it was when he signed with Tek. If he had any aspiration of playing at the next level he would have been better served in a different offensive system. Kids that have 5 star ability (Calvin & BeyBey) can over come the stigma of playing on a run first team lesser players are a crap shoot………..
GT
January 23rd, 2012
2:25 pm
He was not a go to guy by the end of this year. He could make the spectacular one handed catch and then drop a ball in full stride right in this bread basket. How fast is Hill? I don’t think he has the burning speed of Johnson or Thomas, but don’t know. He would do that end around thing and he just looked slower than needed to be to make that thing work.
William Casey
January 23rd, 2012
2:25 pm
There is nothing “wrong” about Stephen Hill’s decision per se. It all depends on the circumstances which nobody here (including me) “knows.” I would have preferred that he had stayed at GT because IMHO it would have helped the team. He played hard and was a “good kid” for three years. I thank him for that. However, although I wish him well, his future earnings are not my concern. That is my bias. As for the money, $350,000 is very nice. It is important to remember, though, that making $350-500K for the average NFL career of four years does not set one for life. It’s a nice start, though. The only athletic advantage of staying at GT might be improving perception of his value and getting more money up front by putting on 15 pounds of muscle and making ALL the catches in 2012. Yeah, I know about the “Combine.” Doing it in games is a whole ‘nother thing. ECONOMIST is probably right ASSUMING wise money management.
I get it...................
January 23rd, 2012
2:36 pm
Mel Kiper is a bigger tool than 5150 UOAD and GT Bob combined……………..
Go get’em Hill – you can do it. .
wreckmaniac
January 23rd, 2012
2:45 pm
Hill does have great skills but he still needs to learn how to catch. Another year at Tech would be very good for him
Ted M
January 23rd, 2012
3:04 pm
He won’t get drafted.
Old Gold Britches
January 23rd, 2012
3:12 pm
Stephen Hill dream your dream and make it become a reality…………best of luck.
Pete Rozell
January 23rd, 2012
3:23 pm
When I looked at the kids stats, I said “nice game”.. I said, no sir, those are my career stats.
foothills
January 23rd, 2012
3:25 pm
Personally think Roddy Jones should begin a career in public service with an eye toward the Ga. senate or house. Don’t know if he had engineering major but the kid’s a bridge-builder, something we could use in public office.
girl knows better than Mel
January 23rd, 2012
3:26 pm
he will go in the 3rd round, wish he had stayed at Tech..Mel Kiper expert my ____
HighTech
January 23rd, 2012
3:33 pm
Gorilla Biscuit
January 23rd, 2012
12:35 pm
Kiper looks like a third-string vampire.
——————————————————-
I’ve thought the same thing. lol.
steel eye
January 23rd, 2012
3:35 pm
I seriously doubt that Hill can make an NFL roster. WR’s at the pro level have to be able to block downfield and Hill can’t block a door.
carlton
January 23rd, 2012
3:37 pm
seems possible that the answer is he’s lost interest in school (near being ineligible). He didn’t think he was going to improve, bcs. he might not playing for reasons other than injury or coach’s decision.
foothills
January 23rd, 2012
3:40 pm
Oh…about S. Hill. If he “shows out” @ the combine who knows. Yeah, he dropped ALOT of balls but he also had a couple of Calvin moments as well (North Carolina game). He has the blocking ability, size, and speed the NFL covets and as someone said earlier IF he can go in the third it will be almost as good as lower 1st money next year. Go for it.
fan
January 23rd, 2012
3:45 pm
If you actually care what that blow-hard Kiper thinks or says you seriously need to get a life.
Hamad Meander
January 23rd, 2012
3:55 pm
Wrong. Stephen Hill probably wouldn’t benefit from another year on Grant Field. The dude caught only 28 passes, but turned in 820 yards and 5 TDs. He isn’t coming back to catch 55 balls, 1,400 yards and 12 TDs. That’s not how their offense works.
He is listed at 6-5, 200 lbs, and runs a 4.5 or 4.6 40. For that alone, he’ll get drafted in the top 4 rounds. Minimum wage in the NFL is $400,000. That’s a lot of money for a 21 year old. Maybe he feels he needs to cash in now. Hopefully he has his Tech degree nearly finished up.
Gator
January 23rd, 2012
3:59 pm
I will pull for him but would be shocked if he plays in the NFL
JFKDawg
January 23rd, 2012
4:11 pm
Uh, Mel. Have you seen the passing attack at Georgia Tech? Neither has anyone else. I can’t imagine why a decent WR would go to Tech in the first place. And if you think he’s graduating with a degree other than Physical Plant Sciences, you are fooling yourself.
Seriously folks
January 23rd, 2012
4:11 pm
Jay, another one with courage hiding behind the keyboard. Which of these outstanding receivers will be catching these yet to be thrown passes from freshman QB’s. jay your a little prick. lets look at some navy stats ooooooh navy Pj threw the ball all over the yard there. not. What a dumbass.,
Pine sitter
January 23rd, 2012
4:12 pm
who plays reveiver and go’s to GT anyway. ANy NFL team looking for a receiver should not be looking at GT.
R.J.
January 23rd, 2012
4:13 pm
Greed makes people do stupid things to include entering into the draft too early…
Noneya
January 23rd, 2012
4:17 pm
Come back to Tech and do what? Block? Who is going to throw him the ball next season?
Johnny DangerDawg
January 23rd, 2012
4:34 pm
Here’s what Stephen Hill said about GT on Signing Day 2009:
” I really like the atmosphere, the ACADEMICS and the coaches. I plan on getting my DEGREE and becoming one of the best wide receivers in the school’s history.”
Just like most football players, this guy says he cares about academics; then he bolts as soon as possible for the NFL.
I get it ..... also!
January 23rd, 2012
4:41 pm
Who can blame him? What has he got to look forward to by coming back? Having 1 or 2 passes thrown to him per game? Another loss to UGA? Another bowl loss? From what I’ve seen, he has talent. Anyway, I wish him the best!
GTfan2012
January 23rd, 2012
4:43 pm
Pine Sitter,
Except that guy named Bey-Bey Thomas, but other than him, NFL teams shouldn’t look at GT for WR. Oh, and that guy named Calvin Johnson, the best WR in the NFL. But other than him, GT can’t turn out WRs.
Wait so GT has two 1st round WR in the NFL in the past 5 years? Crazy. And you know what. Hill will be drafted pretty high (first 4 rounds) as well, just based on his athleticism. So maybe it doesn’t matter where you go to school or what offense you are in. If the NFL scouts think you are talented, you will be drafted.
GTVegas
January 23rd, 2012
4:51 pm
I wish him the best of luck.
It’s a personal decision and I don’t pretend to know his situation.
Again, best of luck to him and I hope he gets his degree eventually.
@GTfan2012
January 23rd, 2012
4:55 pm
Calvin ,Didn’t play for PJ. Thomas wasn’t recruited by PJ. Thomas was a freak athletically, Hill isn’t.
Hill will be picked up as a free agent,If he were to transfer he would be a project at the D-1 level for any program that has a passing attack(Pj offense doesn’t have a passing attack they have a throwing attack) .On the professional level he is a big time project.Not Hills fault, product of the system.
I get it ..... also!
January 23rd, 2012
4:59 pm
@GTfan2012 – You are absolutely right about the NFL. Jay Cutler went to Vanderbilt, and there have been a ton of players that made it to the NFL from division 2 schools. I just don’t understand why a wide receiver would be attracted to a school that runs the ball 95% of the time. I’m not bashing Tech, or Johnson. Tech is a great school, and I believe Johnson is a very good coach. I just don’t see Tech’s offense as attractive to a wide receiver, other than the good chance of being open, because the other teams defense won’t be looking for the pass. Don’t see it as a good fit for a passing QB either.