Versatility is becoming an increasingly valuable commodity in the NFL, especially on the offensive line. Georgia’s Trey Hill has played across the line for the Bulldogs before developing into one of the best centers in this 2021 NFL Draft class. What is his NFL outlook ahead of the annual selection event?
Trey Hill NFL Draft Profile
- Position: Center
- School: Georgia
- Current Year: Junior
- Height: 6’4″
- Weight: 320 pounds
Tony Pauline’s Scouting Report
Positives: Nice-sized center who is fundamentally sound, fires off the snap, and consistently gets leverage on opponents. Stay square, seals defenders from the action, and out-positions them from the play.
Displays solid footwork in space with the ability to slide laterally and is very effective blocking in motion. Quickly gets out to the second level and annihilates linebackers. Easily adjusts to hit a moving target, shows great awareness, and keeps his head on a swivel.
[sv slug=”drizly”]Negatives: Lacks a dominant base and gets pushed back into the pocket, despite his size. Struggled with consistency and snapping the ball last season.
Analysis: Off his sophomore film, I had Hill graded as a potential Day 2 choice. He struggled last season with a lot of inconsistency, but he’s a nice-sized, zone-blocking lineman with tremendous upside. If he irons out the rough edges in his game, Hill can start for a team on Sundays.
Trey Hill Player Profile
The versatility that Trey Hill brings to the 2021 NFL Draft first became apparent at Houston County High School. A physically dominant mauler, he lined up at both guard and tackle for the Bears. In a further display of the physicality he brings to the game, he also was an accomplished track and field athlete who competed in the shot put.
A four-star recruit and the No. 3 ranked guard in the state of Georgia, he attracted college interest early and often. Hill attended camps at both Florida State and Auburn, earning his first offer from Michigan State soon after. Ahead of his junior year, he attended a camp with the Georgia Bulldogs, impressing enough he received an offer the same day.
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Although it appeared for the longest time that he would head to Auburn, his recruitment remained open through an impressive senior season. He earned multiple honors, most notably being named to the second-team All-USA following a year where he helped pave the way for a 1,354-yard rushing season.
Georgia made a late push to keep the impressive offensive lineman in-state, and in December 2017, he committed to play his college football for the Bulldogs.
Trey Hill’s college football career at Georgia
The high school standout became an immediate contributor for his hometown team. He earned Offensive Newcomer of the Year honors, as the value of his versatility was demonstrated over and over again. Playing in all 14 games, he made four appearances at right guard. Against Kentucky, he played center following an injury to their starter. Furthermore, in the ultimate display of versatility, he lined up at multiple positions against Vanderbilt.
During that freshman season, he helped the offensive line spring two running backs for over 1,000 yards. Following his impressive performances, Trey Hill earned the Georgia starting center job as a sophomore, following Lamont Gaillard’s departure to the NFL Draft.
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He didn’t disappoint in his new full-time role. Hill earned second-team All-SEC honors as he paved the way for D’Andre Swift to rack up 1,218 rushing yards. He was named the team’s most improved offensive player, and the Bulldogs improved to a 12-2 record.
Although Georgia’s quarterback carousel in 2020 meant the Bulldogs had an underwhelming season, Hill continued to be a dominating anchor at the heart of the offensive line. He helped spring sophomore running back Zamir White for 779 yards and 11 touchdowns at 5.4 yards per carry. After missing the final two games of his junior season due to injury, Georgia center Trey Hill announced his decision to declare for the 2021 NFL Draft.
Trey Hill’s best fits in the 2021 NFL Draft
What does Georgia center Trey Hill’s projection look like ahead of the 2021 NFL Draft? He’s made 22 starts at center, thus the natural assumption is that he will fill that role in the NFL. However, his versatility would suggest that he would be comfortable playing anywhere along the offensive line’s interior. He’s a mauler in the ground game who wins with physicality and quickness off the snap. Conversely, his average-at-best agility may limit his potential at the next level.
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His best ability is as a run blocker, and therefore, would be best on a team with a heavy run-focused offense. Some immediate team fits would include the Baltimore Ravens, Tennessee Titans, Seattle Seahawks, and New England Patriots.
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Oliver Hodgkinson is a staff writer for Pro Football Network. You can follow him on Twitter at @ojhodgkinson.