Hill's hard work earns coaches' trust
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BY BRIAN ROSENTHAL / Lincoln Journal Star
How would Nebraska fans had felt if Sean Hill had been watching Saturday’s game against Ball State from the student section?
Thank Corey McKeon that Hill wasn’t.
Long story short: Hill hadn’t planned on playing college football, anywhere, until McKeon, his high school teammate, accepted Nebraska’s scholarship offer. Hill then inquired about walking on.
He might have come to Nebraska anyway, albeit just for school. But had McKeon not come here, Hill said he wouldn’t be playing, period.
In that event, who catches three passes for 129 yards and a touchdown in Saturday’s wild 41-40 victory against Ball State?
Oh, someone probably would’ve emerged. Hill’s just thankful that, in his fifth year as a Husker, that someone is finally him.
“Football is a hard sport, especially in Nebraska,” said the 6-foot-3, 250-pound tight end from Lisle, Ill. “They keep bringing in good players. It’s hard. Sometimes you can get frustrated.
“But I guess the reason I’m out here is because I just never gave up. I kept busting my butt and trying to do good, and when my number got called, I tried to do what the coaches asked and make plays in the run and the pass game.”
Hill has been pivotal in two Nebraska victories. His 25-yard TD reception in the final seconds before halftime gave the Huskers a 13-10 lead at Wake Forest, a game Nebraska won 20-17.
In Saturday’s tougher-than-expected victory over Ball State, Hill hauled in a 73-yard TD pass from Sam Keller, catching the ball around the Ball State 45-yard line and breaking away untouched. In the fourth quarter, his 32-yard reception put the Huskers in Ball State territory en route to their final go-ahead touchdown.
Hill’s 129 receiving yards were the most by a Husker tight end since Johnny Mitchell’s school-record 138 yards against Georgia Tech in the 1991 Citrus Bowl. Not since Matt Herian in 2003 had a Husker tight end had more than 100 receiving yards in a game.
Where did Hill come from, and why haven’t fans seen him before, especially given Nebraska’s perceived lack of a receiving threat at tight end?
First-year tight ends coach Joe Rudolph said Hill, through his hard work, simply earned opportunities.
“And those opportunities have been chances for big plays, and he’s made them,” Rudolph said.
“He was at the apex of some decisions, and it worked out well for him. I don’t think it’s a conscious thing, like, ‘Hey, this is what we’re going to do.’ To say, ‘Hey, this is a guy I’m dubbing to do this, to do that,’ no. He just happened to be in there because he earned our trust during the week.”
Junior wide receiver Nate Swift said he’s noticed a boost in Hill’s confidence. Instead of watching from the sideline in practice, Hill is in on almost every play.
“I’ve known he was good enough to play,” Swift said. “It’s just a matter of him stepping up and playing. He’s really come into his own and put forth the work and effort to become a player and a starter.”
Hill redshirted in 2003, then didn’t play in 2004 or 2005, the first two years of the Bill Callahan era. He saw limited action last season in the nonconference season against Louisiana Tech, Nicholls State and Troy.
“There’s been a lot of guys come in and probably take his spot over the years,” Swift said. “I thought he would play last year, and he didn’t.”
Hill didn’t think he’d play, ever.
When he graduated from Naperville North High School, Hill was prepared to give up athletics, mostly because he’s diabetic. He was diagnosed in the sixth grade after he’d lost some 20 pounds in less than two weeks and showed other symptoms, like constant thirst and tiredness. He knew of no history of diabetes in his family.
Classifying his case as “pretty severe,” Hill acknowledged some risks of playing football. He said he’s careful about his diet and keeping tabs on his blood sugar, and that he’s never had very serious complications, such as losing consciousness.
“I’ve been pretty lucky,” he said.
Hill is feeling especially fortunate with the contributions he’s made, too.
“At least I’m doing something now and wasn’t just a member of the team for five years,” Hill said. “I couldn’t see myself doing anything else. I’m so happy I didn’t stop after high school. Best decision I’ve ever made.”
Reach Brian Rosenthal at 473-7436 or brosenthal@journalstar.com.
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