Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Scouting Report: Jonathan Hilliman

Jersey City (NJ) St. Peters Prep running back Jonathan Hilliman
(image via NJ.com)
Name: Jonathan Hilliman
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 210 lbs.
High school: Jersey City (NJ) St. Peters Prep
Position: Running back
Class: 2014

Notes: Has offers from Boston College, Cincinnati, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Maryland, Miami, Michigan, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, UCF, West Virginia, Wisconsin . . . Claims a 4.52 forty . . . As a sophomore in 2011, had 58 carries for 426 yards and 4 touchdowns . . . As a junior in 2012, had 113 carries for 1,400 yards and 21 touchdowns . . . Scout 3-star RB, #27 RB . . . 247 Sports 3-star RB, 87 grade, #30 RB

Strengths: Good straight line speed . . . Strong north-south runner who likes to run downhill . . . Keeps shoulders square to line of scrimmage . . . High effort runner . . . Shows ability to run through arm tackles . . .  Hits hole hard . . . Not afraid of contact

Weaknesses:
 Always carries ball in right hand, even when going left . . . Not very shifty . . . When forced to cut, takes too long to accelerate . . . A bit of a long strider . . . Not a particularly creative runner . . . Decent but not great vision

Projection: Running back.  I'm a little surprised that Hilliman is ranked as low as he is by 247 Sports and Scout, but I don't see a dynamic runner at the next level.  He seems like a solid between-the-tackles runner, a guy who could make a real name for himself in the Big East.  He's a bit of a slasher, but if defenses get in his way to slow him down, I don't know that he has the acceleration, vision, or agility to still make teams pay.  In a normal year, I would expect to see a player like Hilliman somewhere between the #11 and #20 running back nationally.  The player comparison below is more because of his build and stride than overall athletic ability.

Reminds me of: Chris Perry

2 comments:

  1. Under weaknesses you state that he always carries the ball in his right hand, yet, in the picture at the top of the article he is carrying the ball in his...left hand.

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    Replies
    1. True...but the highlight film tells a different story.

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