STRENGTHS - Quick and active, Hill makes more plays than expected and is constantly around the ball. When he maintains leverage, uses hands aggressively and gets hands on blocker first, he can jolt offensive line run blocker, holds ground and flashes ability to shed and make the tackle. His initial quickness helps him to shoot gap to get backfield penetration to disrupt plays in backfield. When offenses pull the offensive linemen over him and try to "reach block" him, he bursts into backfield to make tackle behind the LOS. On outside runs he gets started towards the ball quickly, accelerates to full speed fast and has the playing speed to chase down the ball carrier outside along sideline in pursuit. He uses strong, quick hands to defeat one on one pass blocks well when he has space to work with. An instinctive defender, Hill consistently reads and reacts to the play quickly and looks surprisingly comfortable and aware when he drops off the ball into short area coverage when they zone blitz.
WEAKNESSES - Hill is not only an under-sized defensive tackle, but on film he looks and plays even smaller than his measured size. While he can be effective taking on run blocks and anchoring when he gets his hands on offensive linemen first, he can be completely dominated and ridden out of the play when they get ahold of him first. Additionally, the offensive linemen he will face in the NFL are even bigger and stronger. He lacks the size and playing strength to anchor or split double team blocks. At the Senior Bowl he really struggled as the linemen were able to lock up on him fast and he was a non-factor much of the three padded practices in Mobile.
SUMMARY - A highly competitive player, Hill was constantly around the ball making more tackles than expected when I began evaluating him. Although he does not have the size and playing strength to be an effective two gap defensive tackle, his combination of quick feet, good hand use and athleticism make him well suited to being an "under tackle" in a 43 defense or a defensive end in a 34 defense similar to that played by San Diego and Pittsburgh. Overall, I would not draft Hill early because of his struggles producing once a blocker locks up on him. However, on the third day of the Draft he would be a valuable pick because he has many of the traits to be an excellent backup and contribute on special teams. If he improves his playing strength and produces more when taking on offensive line blockers he could become a starter similar to Brandon MeBane.