The Oregon Ducks are off to an incredible start in the recruiting world in May. Head coach Dan Lanning's hot streak continued on Friday when Dierre Hill Jr. announced his commitment via Instagram Live to Lanning and the Ducks. Hill is heading into his senior season at Althoff Catholic High School in Belleville, Illinois.
Lanning's roots date back to Missouri and this seems to be a contributing factor towards Oregons' growing success in the midwest region. This comes only a week after Oregon reeled in another 4-star commitment from Nasir Wyatt, an edge rusher from the Southern California area. Oregon has also seemingly taken over the recruiting pipeline from USC in the Southern California region, primarily due to the program's greater success in the last decade.
Who Is Dierre Hill Jr?
Dierre Hill is a dynamic athlete who currently resides in Belleville, Illinois. Hill is preparing for his final season at Althoff Catholic. At 5-foot-10, 180 pounds, Hill brings electric speed and some serious versatility as a player. Hill's position is listed as an "Athlete" on most scouting websites, implying that he is just so freakishly talented that coaches may have multiple options regarding where to play him. On3 has him listed as the 6th-ranked athlete in the entire country and 5th 5th-ranked player in the state of Illinois. Hill is the 140th-ranked player in the country. Hill exhibits track-star speed on his highlight tape as a home-run threat as soon as he touches the ball. What is most shocking about Hill is that he shows the ability to control his speed in different paces, rather than most raw prospects in high school who typically only exemplify straight speed and nothing else. Oregon's new running backs coach, Rashaad Samples, brought him to Eugene in April for the Spring game. One could assume the spring game won over Hill, so Coach Samples may be the one to thank for that.
How Does Hill Impact The Ducks?
Hill impacts the Ducks in a way we haven't really seen since Deanthony Thomas. Hill brings elite speed to the table along with home run-hitting ability. So far, it seems he will come into Eugene listed as a running back on the depth chart. However, Offensive Coordinator Will Stein would be foolish not to move him around as a weapon. Much like Thomas did back in the day, Hill can line up as wide receiver, take jet sweeps, play running back, and be a force in the return game. Hill shows incredible vision with the ball in his hands and is a true playmaker in the open field. This is the biggest commitment Oregon has had at this position since Jordan James, who is primed to be the starter this season.
How Quickly Can Hill Contribute?
If we are being completely transparent, Hill may be able to contribute almost as soon as he touches campus. Jordan James is expected to leave for the NFL draft after this season, leaving a giant opportunity for Hill to be an instant impact player. Hill's versatility also contributes to this since he can return kicks and move around the offense wherever it is needed. He may need some coaching to become a true running back with NFL aspirations, but Hill is talented enough to step on the field next year on day one and make plays.
More must-reads: