Nikhai Hill-Green is a linebacker prospect on the rise for North Catholic. After finishing his junior season, Hill-Green has received Division I offers to Vanderbilt, Army, Kent State and UMass on top of offers to Akron, Boston College, Temple, and Toledo during the season. Hill-Green is an emerging prospect ready to take a huge step forward in his senior season.
Hill-Green has anticipated the added interest and said that on top of his offers, he has been in contact with multiple coaches and after his break out year hears from someone new every day.
“A lot of coaches that I have not talked to before have reached out, and I have been open to listening to everyone,” Hill-Green noted.
With his recruitment, he also added that the communication with the coaches was an essential factor.
“Communication with coaches is the biggest thing for me,” Hill-Green admitted. “If I am hearing from a coach often right now, I know I can be able to talk to him when I am at school. Some coaches will talk to me at first, and I don’t hear from them as often. I want to go where I know they will communicate with me and I can communicate with them.”
Hill-Green said that location is no issue as long as he feels comfortable with his ability to communicate.
Communication is a crucial attribute for a player such as Hill-Green as on the field as well, as he plays off the ball as a linebacker. He takes pride in his coverage but admits his physical growth has helped in adding to his recruitment interest
“I honestly thought I was done growing, then I grew two inches,” he laughed. “I want to be able to defend players of all sizes so to add that size and muscle made me more versatile.”
College football and the NFL are adjusting to spread concepts and linebackers such as Hill-Green have to; first be able to cover sideline to sideline, and then be able to defend the run. Added interest can be in an athlete as Hill-Green because he was smaller, and learned how to play in space before his growth hit, and he became a better run defender.
“I can cover like a defensive back,” Hill-Green noted confidently. “And now I can hit like an in the box linebacker.”
Still, the added size and muscle is new to him, and that growing into his body and finding balance while making plays in the run game is something he will work on this season.
“This season I want to prove that I can keep my balance when shedding blocks against linemen.” Hill-Green said. He noted that his offseason contains working out, 7-on-7 drills and working with a track coach, as well as a variety of camps this summer.
Hill-Green is excited for an upcoming season that could only add more offers to the table and throw more attention to his name. He is confident he can grow into his body and wants to come out in 2019 by making a bigger name for himself.
“I am set to prove that I am the best coverage linebacker in the country.”
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