Mock drafts send Tech’s Hill to Houston, S.F.
If the mock drafts are to be believed, former Georgia Tech wide receiver Stephen Hill is going to be either a Houston Texan or San Francisco 49er. I don’t put a great deal of credence in mock drafts; it seems like they tend to mirror one anther and rely on conventional wisdom, which isn’t usually how teams actually pick. Plus, one surprise pick at the top or middle of the actual first round can change everything down the stream.
Regardless, what I take from it is that Hill will likely go in the first round or early in the second, which, as I’ve written before, is remarkable considering that his draft evaluation said that he didn’t have the potential to go in the first three rounds.
The logic with Houston is that wide receiver is considered a “need” position. Starters Andre Johnson and Kevin Walter will both turn 31 before the season starts. Johnson has missed 12 games in the past two seasons. The 49ers had needs at wide receiver, but signed Randy Moss and Mario Manningham, and re-signed Ted Ginn Jr. Moss is obviously a question mark and Ginn has 31 catches in the past two seasons with San Francisco, so one could say the need is still present.
An aggregation:
On nfl.com, three have Hill going at No. 26 to Houston, another slots him with San Francisco at No. 30 and one doesn’t have him in the first round.
Sports Illustrated’s Don Banks gives Hill to San Francisco. ESPN’s Mel Kiper also pegs Hill for the 49ers, as does his colleague Todd McShay, who wrote that Hill had “one of the most impressive combine workouts I’ve ever seen from a receiver.” (Both ESPN mock drafts are behind a pay wall.)
Two more mocks on cbssports.com place Hill in San Francisco and out of the first round.
Wes Bunting of the National Football Post also pegs Hill for the Texans, as does John McClain, the NFL writer for the Houston Chronicle.
He’s generally considered the fourth receiver in the draft, after Justin Blackmon from Oklahoma State, Notre Dame’s Michael Floyd and Baylor’s Kendall Wright.
The first round of the draft is April 26.
Ken Sugiura, Georgia Tech blog
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518 comments Add your comment
Paul in NH
March 30th, 2012
1:32 pm
Oops – I typed “elite athlete” – should have been “ELITE athlete”
Brock
March 30th, 2012
1:32 pm
I remember that Fl J.
1 4 GT
March 30th, 2012
1:33 pm
All I know about Georgie players having many discipline problems is this. I hear and read about theirs way more than other schools. I will limit that thought to the neighboring states and the schools in said states. This is not me being racist or bigoted. We all know the percentage of the college athletes is predominately black and that a high percentage of them grow up without a daddy in the home. They are at a big disadvantage right there. How many times have we read that a recruits hs coach is his legal guardian? These kids are often times recruited by the numerous schools referred to in the states surrounding Georgia. So why is it that we hear about players from the U of Georgie getting in trouble so much more than from other surrounding schools, not accounting for the Steven Garcia’s of the SEC. I have no idea. According to 680theFan, Georgie has the most stringent discipline rules in the SEC. Just saying/asking!!
FL Jacket
March 30th, 2012
1:36 pm
I also hear that Phil Gordon is a helluva Poker Player…
Ghost
March 30th, 2012
1:40 pm
S. Hill has shown a great workout ethic since he declared for the draft. He’s progressed more in 4 months than he did in 3 years at tech.
Paul in NH
March 30th, 2012
1:41 pm
There does seem to be something strange going on in Athens.
I don’t believe that UGA recruits players who are any different than at most of the other schools in the SEC or ACC (Duke and Vandy are a little different). I think that many of the trivial issues at UGA are overblown (all of the scooter issues for starters).
In the 2011 off-season UGA was a model of behavior but this year they are back in the news. Being ranked as the #1 party school in the US may be indicative of where the problem lies.
FL Jacket
March 30th, 2012
1:42 pm
1 4…
I would back away from saying its racially dependent for a few reasons. First, Phil Smith proves that idiots abound no matter how pedigreed or priveleged. But second, I would say it’s more socio-economically motivated. You don’t take kids out of difficult situations, often times with unrealistic expectations, and expect them to act differently just because they are on a college campus. Third, many of these kids have also been coddled because of their athletic gifts. They probably got away with things in HS that the Clarke County PD doesn’t put up with…
5150 UOAD
March 30th, 2012
1:44 pm
I didn’t know today was National Cleavage Day…………..I need to go to the Mall and see if the Ga Peaches are doing their part.
http://blogs.ajc.com/news-to-me/2012/03/30/national-cleavage-day-racks-up-fans/?cxntlid=thbz_hm
FL Jacket
March 30th, 2012
1:44 pm
Ghost…
He truly regressed when he led the NCAA in YPC last year. By the way…is the trashing of Bacarri Rambo and CMR now complete and you feel the need to troll here?
5150 UOAD
March 30th, 2012
1:45 pm
Ghost………what have the dWag players done? Stayed Stupid high school minded pot heads?
1 4 GT
March 30th, 2012
1:46 pm
Supersize and everyone that’s interested. This is what I heard on the radio while out Thursday. 680theFan. Rambo was on spring break. He woke up real early one AM hungry. He spied a plate of brownies. He ate them all. Got higher than a Ga pine. Didn’t know they were pot brownies. Mates took care of him. He got clear headed. Called his hs coach. Fessed up to him because they are still tight. He said he would not pass drug test. Coach says how stupid is Georgie coaches to test kids so soon after return from spring break. Relayed mostly by Chuck Oliver. Questions?? What group of spring breaking college kids would leave a plateful of pot brownies with any left uneaten? Who got up before Rambo and thought, hhmmm, I think I’ll make some brownies and leave them on the table and go back to bed?? HHHHMMMMMMMMMMMMMM???? I don’t think so!!!!
5150 UOAD
March 30th, 2012
1:50 pm
POT is too damn expensive to make brownies with in the first place. Well, unless you have a lot of money or you are friends with a dealer. Are UGa football players RICH or friends with dealers?
George Stein
March 30th, 2012
1:50 pm
I have no idea how you can substantiate that, Ghost.
Ghost
March 30th, 2012
1:52 pm
Screw you Fl, jacket, I have more tech background than you would ever dream of, It wasn’t a flame it was a fact , leading the nation in yards per catch is great until you look at the teams those yards came against.Its obvious he’s worked harder.
George Stein
March 30th, 2012
1:53 pm
I’ll preface this by saying that I don’t really care if Rambo was eating, smoking, or otherwise consuming marijuana. However, if he ate the brownies not knowing they were pot brownies, why would he call his high school coach and not his position coach or another official affiliated with UGA?
Ghost
March 30th, 2012
1:53 pm
I don’t care that rambo ate some brownies, sorry for him he may get suspended, life goes on. someone will step up and take his place.
Brock
March 30th, 2012
1:54 pm
I missed the part where Betty Crocker strolled in at 7am and made brownies. I could come up with 15 better lies than that one.
FL Jacket
March 30th, 2012
1:55 pm
Stay classy Ghost…
Ghost
March 30th, 2012
1:56 pm
If they would’ve drug tested me when I played in the 70’s I would have been suspended tooas well as many well known teammates. georgias policy is very restrictive more so than most programs, including tech.
WnE
March 30th, 2012
1:56 pm
re:
HighTech
March 30th, 2012
12:27 pm
_____________
At the time I wrote that above, Hill had only had something like 300 yds. receiving in the last 9 games, so I was correct that Hill disappeared vs. the BCS level teams on GT’s schedule.
Those comments back on Dec. 2011 was based on in-game production, after seeing him with “real” coaching now we know that CPJ is the one that is at fault for not getting more out of Hill.
His hands were shaky vs. BCS level teams and he disappeared vs. big time teams, but AFTER the coaching he received from Terrance Mathis, only then did he show more consistent hands and better technique, so now we all know that CPJ & Buzz Preston were the problem all along for NOT teaching Hill what he needed to be a better CFB player.
After seeing Malcolm Mitchell & S. Hill which one do you think was/is the more impactful CFB WR?
Follow Chis Conley’s career at UGA and you’ll see the same thing happen, he was the “other T-Fr.” WR that UGA had that burned us last season that our Defense couldn’t cover.
For all the success that Hill has had during the pre-draft NFL workouts, not one time in his College Career at GT under Coach Kung Fu Panda did any defense specifically “game-plan” for him the way they would for a AJ Green, Julio Jones, etc; IF Coach kung Fu Panda were really a genius that got the “most” out of his players then this would not be the case.
You guys can argue all you want, but anyone that “knows CFB” that also saw clips of the NFL combine will tell you that the S. Hill at the combine looked NOTHING like what we saw playing for GT, Hill basically learned more in 3-weeks from Terrance Mathis than he did in 3 years from Coach Fish Fry & Coach Buzz Preston.
Collectively ask yourselves WHY CPJ could not get more out of a 6-4 215lb WR that runs a 4.36 forty that also has a 40-in vertical leap?
George Stein
March 30th, 2012
1:57 pm
Wouldn’t the more accurate measure be what his measurables were before he declared and what they were after? Plus, college statistics are completely irrelevant. Any GM that drafts for those is asking to get fired.
George Stein
March 30th, 2012
1:58 pm
Better technique, WnE? That’s rich.
GT Lee
March 30th, 2012
1:59 pm
weeenie, how about we collectively ask ourselves “why is weenie still posting on this blog site even though he said he wouldn’t if we could prove him wrong?”
George Stein
March 30th, 2012
1:59 pm
“Collectively ask yourselves WHY CPJ could not get more out of a 6-4 215lb WR that runs a 4.36 forty that also has a 40-in vertical leap?”
Probably for similar reasons Mark Richt couldn’t get more out Kris Durham.
GT Lee
March 30th, 2012
2:00 pm
weenie, you going to meet us at the spring game? I want to see your class ring and matching lottery ticket….
Ghost
March 30th, 2012
2:01 pm
Fl jacket , sorry but what i said wasn’t meant as a flame., I watched S hill play a good bit, he ran poor routes , dropped multiple passes and in general didn’t seem focused. From the NFL reports Mathis has been a very good influence and has molded him. I still will be interesting to see how he performs when the band is playing.
George Stein
March 30th, 2012
2:01 pm
“You guys can argue all you want, but anyone that “knows CFB” that also saw clips of the NFL combine will tell you that the S. Hill at the combine looked NOTHING like what we saw playing for GT, Hill basically learned more in 3-weeks from Terrance Mathis than he did in 3 years from Coach Fish Fry & Coach Buzz Preston.”
Partially true. He was not wearing pads. Also, if three weeks with Terrance Mathis fixed everything, then there was really no damage done.
This also begs the question of why Tom Brady continues to seek help outside the Patriot organization. BILL BELICHICK IS A TERRIBLE LOSER KUNG FU PANDA OF A COACH.
Brock
March 30th, 2012
2:02 pm
wne- you go to great lengths to try and prove your point. I would rather you just admit you’re a liar and a stalker and be on your way. You’ve been caught too many times speaking out of both sides of your mouth. you talk too much boy.
5150 UOAD
March 30th, 2012
2:02 pm
WnE is back…..Hey are you going to come see us before a home game? We tailgate close to the Stadium. Right on Techwood near the corner of Bobby Dodd way. Come see us. We will feed you and listen in AWE as you espouse your vast college football knowledge.
FL Jacket
March 30th, 2012
2:02 pm
…but anyone that “knows CFB”…
Can I ask that we all put a moratorium on talking to WnE…it’s obvious that he’s only here to get a rise out of us. And besides, trying to look a crazy person in the eye and tell them they’re crazy is a futile exercise. Therefore, let this be my last mention of whoever he/she might be…
(PS…I’m going to miss continuously ripping holes in his opinionated and unfactual drivel)
George Stein
March 30th, 2012
2:02 pm
We can’t judge his routes, Ghost, because we don’t know what the play call was. The drops were undeniable, but we’ll see if that issue continues when he’s about to get hit at the next level.
HaHaHa
March 30th, 2012
2:05 pm
More UGA talk?
Isn’t one of your former players possibly going to be on a video game cover?
You would think that video game related news would have the Tech Nation (sorry buhuhuwahahahaha) very excited.
1 4 GT
March 30th, 2012
2:06 pm
FLJ—No way am I being racial. I just have to look at the fields of play and see the high percentage of the athletes are black. That is just a cold, hard fact. That’s cool. It’s quite obvious that for the most part, they are better athletes. I believe part of the reason is genetics, part heritage, part the youngsters grow up seeing sports as a really good way to better their lives, part running with the wrong crowd (Mike Vick), and just plain old fashioned stupidity. I know that white kids got into trouble too. It is just the high percentage stands out. I guess I’ll have to bite the bullet and say it. It looks like a leadership failure at Georgie to me. As long as I see the numbers at Georgie as high as they are. what else am I to think? I believe I heard the number of incidents of player attrition and suspension at 31 in the last 2 years?
5150 UOAD
March 30th, 2012
2:06 pm
http://blogs.ajc.com/news-to-me/2012/03/30/national-cleavage-day-racks-up-fans/?cxntlid=thbz_hm
No Comments on the Breast Day of the Year?
Tech Alum
March 30th, 2012
2:06 pm
Ken — I’d much rather hear news and updates about the players who are still in the Tech program vs. all the speculation and stories about where Steven Hill is going to land in the NFL. Could care less about him at this point, since he’s just another “early deserter” who should’ve stayed another year and learned how to make the easy catch…..
GT Lee
March 30th, 2012
2:07 pm
hey hahaha, better get back under your bridge-3 billy goat gruffs are coming down the road, troll……
Ghost
March 30th, 2012
2:09 pm
George, I think Richt and Staff got quite a bit from Durham and did a good job of developing him. Kris had a lot of injury problems + he played behind some very good receivers. Coming out of high school I don’t think anyone thought Kris would get drafted. Michael Bennett is very similar to Durham, and Bennett will most likely play on sundays too.
5150 UOAD
March 30th, 2012
2:09 pm
http://blogs.ajc.com/news-to-me/2012/03/30/national-cleavage-day-racks-up-fans/?cxntlid=thbz_hm
Some people are making Mountains out of this Mole Hill of a story. LOL
WnE
March 30th, 2012
2:09 pm
re:
Probably for similar reasons Mark Richt couldn’t get more out Kris Durham.
_______________
This statement just shows how stupid you are when it comes to CFB, Kris Durham was a very low level recruit, that wasn’t projected to get drafted at all, yet somehow he worked his way into being a 4th round NFL draft pick, not bad considering where he came from talent wise.
Durham didn’t come out of HS long jumping 25-feet and possessing a 40 in vertical leap.
Richt got a helluva lot more out Durham in CFB games than CPJ got out of S. Hill.
GT Lee
March 30th, 2012
2:09 pm
5150, reminds me of a Joe Walsh song (I LBT’s)……
FL Jacket
March 30th, 2012
2:11 pm
Ghost…
Just because CPJ’s gameplan doesn’t ask Stephen Hill to run an endless stream of intermediate (5-20 yards in length) routes doesn’t mean he wasn’t prepared for the NFL. Just because he didn’t get reps on the 15-yard curl doesn’t mean he can’t ever do it.
The jury might be out on Tim Tebow, but if winning games meant that Urban Meyer ran him 25 times a game and didn’t fix his long windup delivery before the NFL Draft…it’s on the player.
GT Lee
March 30th, 2012
2:11 pm
weenie, you gonna meet us at home games and bring your ‘precious’ class ring w/matching lotto ticket?
FL Jacket
March 30th, 2012
2:14 pm
1 4…
You’re looking at the sample size the wrong way. The race of the person isn’t the root cause of why they come from poorer socio-economic backgrounds…just because it’s the result doesn’t mean it’s also the process.
George Stein
March 30th, 2012
2:15 pm
According to Rivals, Kris Durham was a three star player with a 5.7 rating. Stephen Hill was a three start player with a 5.6 rating. Durham was not invited to the Combine, but did participate in the UGA Pro Day, where he was clocked at 4.36 in the 40 with a 35 inch vertical. He was drafted in the third round.
You’re playing with the wrong guy, WnE. I would advise you to take your ball and go home. Like, now.
1 4 GT
March 30th, 2012
2:15 pm
Weenie makes absolutely no allowances for the fact that the GT QB completely forgot how to pass late in the season last year. Just how the heck was Hill supposed to catch the balls thrown, not to him, but in his general direction. All the other possible receivers were in the same boat with that problem, Were they supposed to wear jet packs to go up and catch the ball? Or maybe they could use magic to redirect the ball into their grasp?
Ghost
March 30th, 2012
2:17 pm
Fl jacket , just a hypothetical, do you think Hill would’ve been better prepared playing in a pro style offense in the Option, D. Thomas was indeed a first round draft pick but wasn’t starting for Denver before his injury. AJ Green was all pro as a rookie, which was more prepared for the NFL. Is that a fair comparison?
5150 UOAD
March 30th, 2012
2:19 pm
Lee no song title posts today
WnE come see us Ken did last year. no physical threat. just a chance for you to say your opinions in public.
We know you don’t have tickets, a ring, or guts I guess.
George Stein
March 30th, 2012
2:21 pm
AJ Green was not All Pro as a rookie.
5150 UOAD
March 30th, 2012
2:21 pm
Is it Fair to say Cleveland didn’t have any options BUT A J Green?
GTfan2012
March 30th, 2012
2:21 pm
I agree. Let’s stop addressing WnE. His lies have been documented for all to see. And when he’s caught changing his story, he just makes up a new story. Oh, those moments of reading the comments over the last few days where WnE’s name did not appear. That was nice.