Undrafted Miami DE Trevon Hill heading to New England Patriots to prove he’s real deal
Former University of Miami defensive end Trevon Hill came to the Hurricanes to complete a playing career that teetered off course when he was dismissed from the Virginia Tech program by coach Justin Fuente following a sideline argument with a football staff member at halftime of a game.
To Fuente’s credit, the coach kept Hill on scholarship so he could “get his education and have an opportunity to play,’’ Fuente told reporters on National Signing Day in February 2019, when UM announced Hill would be transferring to the Hurricanes for his final season. “That’s what we want for him, to still have an opportunity to live out his dream.’’
Surprisingly, Hill went undrafted this weekend. But that doesn’t mean his dream won’t materialize. The Miami Herald learned on Sunday that Hill is signing as an undrafted free agent with the New England Patriots.
Strong D-Line
Hill, measured at 6-3 and 248 pounds at the NFL Scouting Combine, was with the Hokies for four seasons and stayed at Virginia Tech until he got his degree in property management. He played as a Miami graduate transfer — the third rush end in a rotation that included national standout Gregory Rousseau and expected draft pick Jonathan Garvin.
To add a bit more spice to the Hokies saga, Hill threw up the U as he walked across the Virginia Tech stage during his graduation ceremony.
“I know a lot of people were mad about that, but that was me just saying that I’m moving on,’’ Hill, from Virginia Beach, told Mike Barber of the Richmond Times-Dispatch. “Whatever bump is in the road, whatever is being said negatively about me, y’all can’t stop me. The only person who can stop me is me. I love Virginia Tech with all my heart. I’m a Hokie for life. But at the end of the day, I got my degree, I’m graduating and now I’m moving on to the U.’’
TFLs and sacks
At UM, Hill ended his college career with 27 tackles, 9 1/2 tackles for loss and 4 1/2 sacks in 12 games. He skipped the Independence Bowl to concentrate on the draft.
At Virginia Tech, Hill redshirted his freshman season in 2015 and over the next three seasons played in 30 games — including the three in 2018 before he was dismissed.
He amassed 94 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 11 1/2 sacks, 14 quarterback hurries, a forced fumble and interception for the Hokies.
Hill ran his 40 in 4.89 at the combine, jumped 28 inches high in the vertical and broad jumped 113 inches. He was asked to do linebacker drills at the combine, as he could project to a “standup outside linebacker,’’ according to NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein.
“To me, what I’ve enjoyed about him is the way he works,’’ UM coach Manny Diaz said of Hill during the season. “He has gotten better every week, because he had to play himself back into shape starting in training camp because he missed some time in the summer [with a shoulder injury.] He has been eager to learn, eager to work.’’
Last week, Diaz told the Miami Herald that Hill became a leader and was well respected by his teammates.
“Trevon is another guy who is dynamic off the edge, a tough, high-motor player, and a really good guy to have in your locker room,’’ Diaz said. “He’s a guy that really has an understanding of making the guys around him feel like they’re important. Trevon is a guy that a bunch of teams would be excited to have.
“He’s very mature. Without being there I can’t say exactly what happened at the old school,’’ Diaz said of the Virginia Tech situation. “But [Trevon] became a guy that during the course of the year was a captain of our football team. And with a new guy, that’s not easy to do.”
