Bill Hill (American football)
No. 31 | |||
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Position: | Cornerback | ||
Personal information | |||
Born: | Neptune Township, New Jersey | April 21, 1959||
Height: | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | ||
Weight: | 172 lb (78 kg) | ||
Career information | |||
High school: | Howell (NJ) | ||
College: | Rutgers | ||
Undrafted: | 1981 | ||
Career history | |||
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||
Career NFL statistics | |||
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Player stats at NFL.com · PFR |
William Hill (born April 21, 1959) is a former American football cornerback in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys. He also was a member of the New Jersey Generals of the United States Football League. He played college football at the Rutgers University.
Early years[]
Hill attended Howell High School, where he played football and baseball. As a sophomore in 1974, he was named the starting running back. As a senior, he received All-Monmouth honors.
He recorded more than 1,000 rushing yards in three straight seasons, finishing his high school career with 3,147 rushing yards, 228 scored points and a punting average of 41.3 yards.[1]
College career[]
Hill accepted a football scholarship from the University of Virginia. He left the school after suffering an injury and enrolled at Brookdale Community College to focus on playing baseball. As a sophomore in 1979, he received honorable-mention All-American honors as an outfielder and was selected by the New York Mets in the 16th round (#392 overall) of the 1979 Amateur Entry Draft.
After participating one season in the New York–Penn League, he walked-on at Rutgers University, to practice football under head coach Frank R. Burns.[2] In his only season with the team in 1980, he played cornerback, while registering 37 tackles, one interception, one carry for 13 yards and 8 kickoff returns for 177 yards (22.1-yard avg.).
Professional career[]
Cleveland Browns[]
Hill was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Cleveland Browns after the 1981 NFL Draft.[3] He was released before the start of the season.
New Jersey Generals (USFL)[]
On January 15, 1985, he signed as a free agent with the New Jersey Generals of the United States Football League. He was later released and re-signed on March 21.[4] He started in some of the games at cornerback.[5] He didn't get a chance to play in 1986 after the league folded.
Dallas Cowboys[]
After the NFLPA strike was declared on the third week of the 1987 season, those contests were canceled (reducing the 16-game season to 15) and the NFL decided that the games would be played with replacement players. In September, he was signed to be a part of the Dallas Cowboys replacement team that was given the mock name "Rhinestone Cowboys" by the media.[6] He was a backup at right cornerback behind Robert Williams. He was released after the strike ended on October 26.[7]
Personal life[]
Hill was a football head coach at Toms River High School South, Asbury Park High School,[8] and Howell High School. Hill has earned a record of 11-39 as a head football coach.
References[]
- ^ "Greatest running backs ever at the Jersey Shore". Retrieved February 15, 2020.
- ^ "Brookdale Athletics Hall Of Fame Class of 2015". Retrieved February 15, 2020.
- ^ "Scarlet Knights in the NFL Draft". Retrieved February 15, 2020.
- ^ "The New Jersey Generals rearranged their player roster Thursday..." Retrieved February 15, 2020.
- ^ "Bill Hill Profile". Retrieved February 15, 2020.
- ^ "Who's playing today and for whom". Lakeland Ledger. October 4, 1987.
- ^ "Transactions". Retrieved February 15, 2020.
- ^ "Asbury Park Bishops 2014 Preview". Retrieved February 15, 2020.
- 1959 births
- Living people
- Sportspeople from Monmouth County, New Jersey
- Players of American football from New Jersey
- Baseball players from New Jersey
- American football cornerbacks
- Virginia Cavaliers football players
- Brookdale Jersey Blues baseball players
- Rutgers Scarlet Knights football players
- New Jersey Generals players
- Dallas Cowboys players
- National Football League replacement players
- High school football coaches in New Jersey
- People from Neptune Township, New Jersey