Hilton ready for upcoming NFL draft

Hilton is projected to be a 2nd-3rd round pick in the NFL Draft

Brandon Wise/ Sports Director

brandon.wise@fiusm.com

Hilton is projected to be drafted on Friday when the second and third rounds take place.

The NFL draft is the final product of a collegiate athlete’s career. There is no more work to be done. Players can only answer questions from General Managers and Scouts about what they can bring to their respective team. For T.Y. Hilton, he knows that he has left everything on the table.

“I’m just sitting back and relaxing,” Hilton said. “I know I did my part, now it’s time to let the coaches do theirs.”

He and his father, Tyrone Hilton, have both gone through the process together. For the elder Hilton, it’s finally time to see where his son can fulfill a life long dream.

“It’s been nerve-wracking and anxious to see where he’s going to go,” his father said. “And at the same time the whole process is very humbling because it’s been a situation that he’s always dreamed of.”

According to ESPN’s Mel Kiper, Hilton could be off of the draft boards by Friday, in the second or third round. But, as his father keeps telling him, don’t pay any attention to that stuff.

“Just to be patient. Don’t listen on whether you’re projected to go here or go there,” his father said. “What’s meant for you is going to be what’s meant for you. You have done a terrific job at FIU and things will fall in place.”

Hilton has visited teams such as Philadelphia Eagles, Indianpolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Dallas Cowboys, and Pittsburgh Steelers as well as having workouts for the Baltimore Ravens, New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins. Those scouts, according to Hilton, think that he could make an impact right away on their teams.

“They all say I’m pretty small, that I will be able to learn their system pretty quick,” Hilton said. “They all say they like my play making ability; I’m able to help them from different points of the game, on offense and special teams. They all love me as a returner, they think I can change games a lot.”

Not only has FIU given Hilton the opportunity to showcase his blazing speed and amazing agility, but it has also given him a chance to build a great relationship with his now former head coach, Mario Cristobal.

“We’ve been talking on a regular basis. He’ll text me or call me, let me talk to his son,” Hilton said. “We always keep in touch; I love that guy, he’s a good head coach. Talking with him, I think he wants me to go to the [Pittsburgh] Steelers. He loves them.”

While his former coach may want him to become a Steeler, a lot of South Florida would say that they would want him to trade in the blue and gold for teal and orange. Hilton thinks it might be easier if the Dolphins selected him because of his familiarity with the area.

“It would be easier because I have been in South Florida my whole life,” Hilton said. “I talked to the Dolphins a lot. They like my play making ability and they like me as a receiver as well. They like me a lot and they say hopefully we can do something in the future.”

The draft will begin tonight at 8 p.m. where the first 32 picks will occur. Then on Friday, the second and third rounds will be conducted beginning at 7 p.m.

About Post Author