Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, April 20, 1990 TAG: 9004200114
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B9 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SCOTT BLANCHARD SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Hill, a 6-foot-3, 264-pound defensive tackle who had 76 tackles (nine for losses) and three sacks as a senior for Virginia Tech last year, was selected Virginia defensive player of the year by the Roanoke Times & World-News. He was chosen for The Associated Press All-South Independent first team and was an AP honorable-mention All-American.
Yet, of former Hokies being scouted by NFL teams, Hill seems to be getting only a glance.
He says the lack of attention has him uncertain about his football future.
"I'm pretty vague on all subjects," Hill said.
Hill said he has worked out for Pittsburgh, Atlanta, the New York Giants and Cleveland, but, he said, he has gotten no feedback on his stock with pro teams. He wasn't listed as a prospect in the 1990 NFL College Draft Preview, a preseason guide published by Pro Football Weekly magazine.
About the only thing certain for Hill is that he is on the "negotiation list" of the Saskatchewan Rough Riders, a Canadian Football League team. Each CFL team compiles a list of no more than 30 players with whom they have the right to negotiate.
Saskatchewan general manager Alan Ford said the CFL teams usually wait to see what happens in the NFL draft, then contact their prospects to begin negotiations.
"Anybody we put on that list, we're obviously very, very interested in," said Ford, whose team won the Grey Cup last year, symbolic of the CFL championship.
Tech assistant coach Steve Marshall knows Rough Riders defensive coordinator Ted Heath and alerted him to Hill.
Ford said about 10 percent of the CFL's players are signed from the negotiation lists.
Hill said if he is not drafted by an NFL team, he'll try to hook on with one as a free agent before seriously thinking about going to Canada.
Hill said he hopes the NFL scouts rely not so much on his vital statistics - his slow 40-yard dash time, for example - as on his play. Hill's presence was a major reason that Tech's 1989 defense ranked fourth in the nation in total yards allowed. And at season's end, Hill was playing with a broken thumb.
"They like to have size and speed," he said. "That's something I really don't have. If they watch me on film, they might be excited."
by CNB