CSU counts on Hill to help turnaround
Collin Hill F ORT dropped back, looked at his target and launched the football deep down the field. When he connected with his receiver, he heard a voice he recognized behind him.
When he turned around to see Peyton Manning, he was awestruck. That moment at the Manning Passing Academy in June at Nicholls State University was surreal for Colorado State’s redshirt junior quarterback. It was just as astonishing as when, weeks prior, he checked his phone after a workout to see a voicemail from Archie Manning, inviting him to be one of approximately 45 college quarterback camp counselors at the event.
Both moments were reminders of him starting to fulfill a potential that’s been anticipated since head coach Mike Bobo gave him the starting job as a true freshman in 2016, but one that’s been stalled by two ACL tears in three years.
Though he has only eight career starts, Hill is charged with carrying the Rams to a bounce-back season. CSU finished 3-9 last year. Headed into Year 5 with Bobo at the helm, a breakout season for the 6-foot-5, 214-pound quarterback could be needed to cool his head coach’s hot seat.
“Football’s a team game,” Hill said. “And for me, yeah, I do have some goals. But right now, we’re worried about being the best offense we can be, being the best team we can be. If we take care of our business the way we want to, everything else will kind of take care of itself.”
It’s easy to see why many think Hill is due for a big year. As a true freshman, he made his first career start in Week 2 and started four games. The three-star recruit was fifth among FBS freshman quarterbacks in passer efficiency rating (150.6) and passing yards per game (267.5) during that stretch.
But, in the third quarter of CSU’S fifth game against Utah State, Hill planted his left foot on a 19-yard scramble and his knee buckled. He had torn his left ACL.
Hill missed the remainder of the season and redshirted in 2017 in order to rehabilitate. But, after throwing for 1,096 yards, eight touchdowns, and just two interceptions in five games his first year, there were great expectations a season ago. Bad luck struck again, though. Less than two weeks before the start of the Rams’ spring practice in March 2018, Hill re-tore his left ACL. This time, he suffered the injury playing pickup basketball.
After he worked himself back from surgery, he was cleared to play in CSU’S 2018 season opener and voted a captain by his teammates. But, Bobo opted to bring Hill along slowly. K.J. Carta-samuels, a graduate transfer from Washington, started the first eight games before Hill reclaimed his role in late October against Wyoming.
Hill said he’s not concerned about sustaining another injury.
“You can’t really worry about it. I always said, ‘If it’s gonna happen, it’s gonna happen.’ I’m gonna play. It doesn’t ever cross my mind, like, ‘Oh, I don’t need to make this cut.’ I’m just playing ball.”
That’s good news for a team desperately in need of optimism. CSU lost 14 starters from last season, seven on each side of the ball. Last year’s leading rusher and the top two receivers are gone.
Even with pressure inevitably resting on Hill’s shoulders, Bobo said the South Carolina native hasn’t let it become overbearing. In fact, Bobo said the increased expectations have served to help push Hill to elevate his game.
“He was a guy out there during the summer that’s become more vocal,” Bobo said. “He has taken over this team and doesn’t shy away from those expectations. He’s got an ego, too. He wants to be considered one of the best quarterbacks in the country. But you gotta go out there and do that.”
Parth Upadhyaya: pupadhyaya@denverpost.com or @pupadhyaya_