Former Hogs' Player's 'Full Recovery' May Be Biggest Win

Originally posted on Arkansas Razorbacks on SI
By Andy Hodges | Last updated 2/22/23

Peyton Hillis really just handled this like he has everything else in his life .

It appears the former Arkansas running back and NFL star is going to make a "full recovery" after he nearly died while saving his kids from drowning in the Gulf of Mexico off the Florida shores.

He put out his first public statement this week following the accident.

It's the way he's handled his entire career, often over- shadowed by Darren McFadden and Felix Jones during his time with the Razorbacks.

Nobody can count the number of times he made THE play, block or special teams decision that settled games. He was also a big-play guy catching passes out of the backfield that gave defenses fits trying to figure out which one of those three guys would end up with the ball.

Others can disagree, but I still say his injury in 2006 cost the Hogs a great shot at both their first SEC championship and a legitimate shot at playing for their first national championship.

They lost the last regular-season game of the year with a remarkable day of returning kickoffs by LSU's Trindon Holliday in War Memorial Stadium. They lost the SEC title game against Florida with some poor special teams decision-making.

Hillis made a lot of those on-field decisions for special teams.

In the NFL, he ended up playing for the Cleveland Browns, New York Giants and Denver Broncos and was on the cover of the Madden NFL game one year.

Now he's had what may be the challenge of his life.

And he answered like he has everything else – by winning.

This article first appeared on Arkansas Razorbacks on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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