UF’s Hill embracing new role at star position
After coming back from a torn ACL in 2021, Florida football senior Jaydon Hill established himself as a starting cornerback during the 2022 season.
Hill was solid in man coverage with two interceptions, including one against Missouri that was returned for a touchdown.
So when coaches approached the 6foot, 195-pound Hill about moving inside to the star defensive back position for the 2023 season, it was a mild surprise. But Hill didn’t protest the move.
“I looked at it more so as a team need, and with my skill set I feel like that I could come into that position and play pretty well,” Hill said.
Hill has embraced the new role and is coming off one of his strongest games of the season with 4 tackles, a pass breakup and half a tackle for a loss against Vanderbilt. He’ll look to continue to his steady play in the secondary on Saturday when the Florida Gators play at South Carolina (3:30 p.m., SEC Network).
“It’s a lot more you have to deal with just besides covering a wideout,” Hill said. “That’s a lot easier said than done ...
“I’m just still trying to feel it out. But I feel like I’m doing pretty decent at that position.”
Star position requires more communication, physicality for Florida football
The biggest adjustment in the new position, Hill said, is communication.
“Things happen a lot faster as far as the urgency of getting lined up, urgency of getting a call to the cornerback, safety,” Hill said. “It’s not just you who has to call, you have to relay it to everybody. I feel that’s the biggest change, talking every play.”
As the closest defensive back to the ball, the position has also required Hill to mix it up a bit on run plays, Hill’s 12 tackles include six solos.
“You’ve got to take on blocks,” Hill said. “I’ve got to take on linemen, pulling linemen. It’s not always fun. We don’t always get the credit. But I make the gaps smaller for (linebackers) Shemar (James) and Scooby (Williams) to make the tackle. I love it. I love it for those guys.”
Hill’s experience as a cover corner helps in his assignments on slot receivers, tight ends and running backs out of the backfield. On crossing patterns, Hill said it’s important to stay with receivers and not get caught in picks that can spring receivers open.
“I feel like I always could get by screens and stuff like that, but it came with a lot of work, too,” Hill said. “When I moved the position in spring, I struggled a lot.
“It kind of just came with reps. Repetition and I would say just out there with those wideouts every day just banging and defeating blocks. So it comes with just experience and reps.”
A pathway to the NFL
The move to the star positon could also help Hill’s NFL draft stock, the way it did former UF standout defensive back Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, who moved from safety to star during his Gator career. Gardner-Johnson was taken in the fourth round of the NFL Draft in 2019 by the New Orleans Saints and is entering his fifth season in the NFL with the Detroit Lions.
“Chauncey is really versatile,” Hill said. “I feel like we kind of share some of the same traits as far as ability to cover, rush, do a lot of things. Chauncey, we talk ball a lot. He came down in spring, teaching me different things about the position.”
For now, though. Hill is focusing on continuing to grow in his new role to help UF’s secondary for the remainder of the season. UF’s defense has shown improvement in 2023, ranking third in the SEC in total defense (286.8 ypg allowed) and third in scoring defense (16.8 ppg allowed).
“Just being consistent at that position,” Hill said. “I feel like that’s like the biggest thing I’ve been harping on myself. Just being consistent throughout this whole year.”