Meet The Class of 2014: CJ Hilliard
By Alex Kuhn
With National Signing rapidly approaching, Dear Old Gold will be bringing you in-depth profiles of several of the Hawkeye commits and signees in a segment called “Meet the class of 2014.”
To be the best, you have to beat the best. Iowa commit CJ Hilliard, of St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati, knows this all too well. Hilliard played on the varsity football team at St. Xavier, alma mater of All Pro Linebacker Luke Kuechley, since his freshman season. In one of the best high school football cities in the country, in the best conference in the city, playing on a team with one of the richest traditions in the country, CJ Hilliard has competed against scores of division-1 players including current Ohio State Quarterback, Braxton Miller.
As a three year starter for the Bombers, Hilliard racked up over 1,200 career rushing yards and was a standout at the safety position. During that time period, St. Xavier played over 15 of the nation’s Top 25 High School Football teams. As a senior, Hilliard’s Bombers squad struggled for their standards, finishing with a 5-6 record; however, the schedule they played was incredible. Five of St. Xavier’s six losses came against the nation’s top 200 teams including three losses to top 50 teams. Because of this, despite a losing record St. Xavier still finished in the top 150 in the MaxPreps Rankings.
Hilliard has been told by the Iowa coaching staff that he is going to begin his career at running back. While the versatile Cincinnatian has the ability to play safety as well, he will first give the backfield a try. The running back position is one of the deepest on the Hawkeye Football team and Hilliard is excited to join the elite group. “It’s an honor,” Hilliard said. “To go in and compete with some of the best running back’s in the Big Ten. I will look at it as a learning experience and I will be able to see how I measure up.”
The tape of CJ Hilliard reveals a word that would describe many Hawkeye running backs of the past. “Solid.” Hilliard is a very instinctive runner that does a good job of making one cut and hitting the hole. At 5’10” 185 pounds, he has good power as displayed in his ability to hit on the defensive side and pass block on the offensive side of the football. “Pass protection is one of my biggest strengths,” Hilliard said. There is no question about this. While, he didn’t get the bulk of the St. Xavier carries he has a frame that could add some weight and be an every down back. Hilliard also does a good job catching the ball out of the backfield. He has soft hands and could be a real asset in the screen game. Early in his career, Hilliard could profile more as a third down back while learning from the likes of Mark Weisman, Jordan Canzeri, and Damon Bullock. When those guys are gone, Hilliard looks like a guy that could be a feature back. At 5’10” Hilliard is very similar to former Iowa running back Adam Robinson. Flexibility to move to safety, if need be, also makes him very enticing.
The biggest thing that Hilliard brings to the table is his leadership and resiliency to perform under pressure. He believes that the competition he faced in high school will help him make the transition to the Big Ten level of competition. “You look at a lot of these recruits who were the best in there city or on their team, and quite frankly, they haven’t played anybody. I have played some great teams and have been battle tested,” Hilliard said. He not only has been coached by the best but he has had many great mentors along the way to help to get him to this point. “Conor Hundley, he’s at Akron right now. He’s one of the best backs to ever walk through the doors at St. X, also Steve Daniels who’s at Boston College now. Both of those guys took me under their wing and showed me what it takes to be a champion both on the field and in the weight room,” Hilliard said.
Hilliard’s big-game experience and skill-set will certainly be assets to the Hawkeyes. On another note, Hilliard’s brother, Justin, is a blue-chip linebacker recruit in the 2015 class. It would be great to see another Hilliard commitment in Iowa City next year. For now however, let us all be excited that the elder Hilliard chose Iowa over Indiana and Boston College. Welcome to Iowa City CJ. We’re happy to have you!