Previously: Last year’s profiles, K Adam Samaha, S Brandyn Hillman, CB DJ Waller, CB Cameron Calhoun.

#20 – Kankakee, Illinois – 6'2"/171
[Patrick Barron]		247: 6'1/170                4.18*	4*, 92, #220 overall #23 ATH, #2 IL
		Rivals: 6'2/180                3.87*	4*, 5.8, NR overall #48 CB, #9 IL
		ESPN: 6'2/170                4.35*	4*, 83, #158 ovr, #11 MW #18 CB, #3 IL
		On3: 6'2/185                4.58*	4*, 95, #104 overall #12 CB, #2 IL
		Composites:     4.31* / 4.27*	4*, #172/#165 overall #20 ATH/#20 CB, #2 IL
		MGo Avg:                4.24*	4*, #248/783 Ovr, #27/74 CBs since 1990
		YMRMFSPA	Devon Witherspoon
Other Suitors	Illinois, Purdue after Ryan Walters went there
Previously On MGoBlog	Hello 12/21/2022.
Notes	Early enrollee. Nickname "Suga." Cousin Naz.
Film:
Senior Highlights: Hudl. Mic'd up. Camp (vs I'Marion Stewart).

I needed to check the roster cheat sheet, but I probably should have known. It was #20 in maize, right out of halftime, flashing past a WR on the edge of an arc read (Moten(+2)), then #20 again, realizing his flat had no threats and dropping into a pickoff on the next play.

I chastised myself for not looking out for him earlier. Sam Webb had been slapping his knee over this kid that Michigan pursued like he was the Devin Bush Jr. or Donovan Edwards of the class. One program insider told me they'd take Jyaire Hill over 5-star Nyckoles Harbor "with no hesitation." His recruitment was a two-year battle between Michigan and Illinois, who had him on campus nine times. This got so intense that showing any concern whatsoever when Hill left Michigan out of his top-five going into Signing Day was a tell that someone wasn't paying attention.

I kept watching as #20 dominated a route by Blue #82 (Fredrick Moore). As he set a hard edge versus a guard to beat well-designed QB counter. Broke on a hitch. A tackle through traffic I don't think I saw Channing Stribling make his entire career. On a day nobody could get Alex Orji to go down, some cornerback who by all rights should have still been back in Kankakee beat a block and made it happen. This hit. Marcus Pollard was celebrating his interception when this happened, and had to remove the buffs.

Hill also fell for this sluggo.

So, okay, there's some work to do. But keep your eye on this one.

[After THE JUMP: Laterality, attitude, and long-itude.]

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Crazy Athlete, Crazy Speed

The relationship between excitement about Hill and how much people have watched Hill is not just a spring phenomenon. Sam Webb wanted Hill in the Top-50. EJ Holland was sent to Kankakee by Courtney Morgan, saw the "off the charts athleticism and tremendous speed," and kept going back.

He had that Wow factor. It was man, this guy is so explosive, especially on the offensive side of the ball. … That explosion, it transitions over to the defensive side of the ball. You see the closing speed. You see the plays he makes on the ball. … I've seen this guy live many times and he's just a really impressive athlete. … Hill is a bit more raw than Will [Johnson], but I think Hill is more dynamic of an athlete and definitely faster—you see the track speed. … Michigan obviously wants him at corner, which isn’t surprising. Hill has the height and length that Michigan desires at the position to go along with 10.87 100m speed. Clinkscale wanted to get faster at the cornerback position, and Hill certainly brings impressive track times to the table. Hill is also a fluid athlete, has great natural instincts and loves to play physical.

… I absolutely love Hill. He is my highest-graded player in the class, and it's not even really all that close to be honest. I think Michigan got an absolute stud here.

On3 described a "long, easy stride" and noted an electronically timed 4.59 forty as a junior. The track speed was enough to lead his school to the state championship in track. Numbers via 247's Gabe Brooks:

Ran 100-meter times of 10.87, 11.01, and 11.08 as a junior in Spring 2022. Ran 200-meter times of 21.90, 22.06, 22.15, and 22.21.

That's very good but not insane—for reference Denard Robinson finished 3rd in Florida with a 10.44. But also nobody accused Denard of being 6'2" while doing it. The athleticism stuck out to former M DBs coach Vance Bedford:

His short area quickness and his change of direction I thought were outstanding. … He reminds me of a William Peterson who I had (at Michigan). … but he's more athletic. He has better hips, better feet.

Favorite non-Michigan/ND writer at 247 Jeremy Werner kept repeating "rare talent with special length, athleticism and track star speed." Tim O'Halloran (site: EdgyTim.com) covers Chicago for Rivals and was an early and often advocate—"long and lanky athlete with terrific speed", "impressive physical tools and is a high motor, high energy twitchy athlete," and the player of the year in Illinois:

On a roster that seems to be overloaded with speedy, athletic ballers this season, [Hill] is just different. … impressive speed and quickness, gets in and out of breaks seamlessly and just plays with a very high football IQ.

Their Illinois reporter says the "speed and quickness stand out." Maize & Blue Review's Lucas Reimink says "Jyaire has all the tools to be a top-notch CB at the next level" and listed foot speed and hip fluidity as positives in a glowing report.

… very good foot speed to turn and run with almost anybody down the field in man coverage. His hip fluidity is also really good, as he can flip his hips on a dime and accelerate quickly to stick with almost any WR type. He has really good lateral agility and change of direction to be able to mirror WR’s throughout their route at a very high level. … all the physical ability in the world, showcasing top-flight athleticism with his very good foot speed, very good lateral agility, fluid hips, and good ball skills.

Touch the Banner also focused on the track times, noting Hill "pulls away from defenders" on offense and "has decent hips and an ability to change direction" despite being a bigger corner. Then he gave Hill an 88 score, which is pretty high for Magnus.

Coaches are telling this to Hill as well.

"I bring a lot of excitement to the field," Hill said. "Coaches like my feet, hands, and hips."

His own coach was making comps to the greats.

Jyaire is a special kid. The sky is the limit for him. He’s going to be special. … I would compare him to a Deion Sanders-type. He’s got that character like Deion. He’s a great athlete that can play any position on the field. He plays running back, wide receiver, cornerback and more for us. He’s just an all-around athlete. He’s a dog. His sideline-to-sideline speed is crazy.

The odd scout out was 247's Allen Trieu, who made Hill one of the two MVPs of his position at a camp in Kansas City a year ago.

He was excellent. A great athlete with length, those qualities were on display as well as closing speed which allowed him to get in front of some passes during a handful of eye-catching reps.

…then put together a scouting report of a project.

Has the desired physical tools for a high-end defensive back prospect. Has good height and length. Track background and verified combine results back up his straight line speed. Has additionally shown his athleticism and open-field ability as a return man and offensive player.

The result was lumping Hill together with the other corners of this class, comparing the upside to DJ Waller's and sharing a comp to Lonnie Johnson with Calhoun. They did shoot Hill from a high 3-star to their top-150, however, so this might have been a "this is as far as I'll go" moment. If Trieu saw the senior film later he didn't make mention of it.

Length and ball skills

Everyone agrees on the high ceiling because of the height and instincts. Reimink was impressed when the ball's in the air:

Jyaire is a straight up playmaker, showcasing good ball skills to break up passes and pick them off as well.

When Hill's coverage is praised, it's often in terms of "ball skills" and instincts. Vance Bedford said that's the first thing he looks at.

can you play the ball in the air? (Hill) can do that. Then I look for toughness, and then I talk about speed. I saw all of those things. His short area quickness and his change of direction I thought were outstanding. His physicality when he came up to run support is outstanding. He is a typical Michigan guy.

Edgy Tim O'Halloran described "incredible length, twitch and body control," and "impressive ball awareness in the secondary." SoonerScoop's Josh McCuiston said it shows in his offensive tape.

an impressive defensive back who has ball skills that show up on the offensive side of the ball on his highlights. However he looks natural coming down hill and could be a player who shines as a deep safety.

Holland calls Hill "a little raw" compared to the "more technically savvy" Will Johnson, but thinks the rest makes up the difference.

The closing speed, the ability to make plays on the ball, just the ball skills, the natural instincts, are all there. The height, the length, at six-foot-two-and-a-half. Those long, rangey arms he uses that to his advantage.

His site's official scouting report is from the summer before Hill's junior year, but they noted the production and tied that back to the talent.

Productive, do-it-all playmaker who likely projects as a cornerback long-term. A taller, thin defensive back measuring in at over 6-foot-1 and around 170 pounds prior to his senior season. … Has excellent ball production, picking off 7 passes as a junior. Shows plus instincts at defensive back, quickly triggering to break on routes. Also shows reactive quickness in man coverage in the camp setting. Dangerous with the ball in his hands as a kick and punt returner.

Their comparison was Stanford's Paulson Adebo because of "Jyaire Hill's lean frame, athleticism and two-way playmaking ability." That's another long and athletic guy who was still pretty raw coming out of high school. That takes us back to the Allen Trieu's Lonnie Johnson comparison.

I saw Johnson in high school and he was built like Hill is now and was a multi-purpose high school player who played receiver and returned punts but ultimately had the length and athleticism to be an earlier draft pick as a defensive back.

Trieu was correct, as Johnson was taken late in the 2nd round. Here's Johnson's NFL scouting report:

Long and tall with physical traits galore, Johnson looks the part but lacks the consistency and ball skills expected of a starting NFL cornerback. He has enough athleticism to make it as a cornerback, but he could be tied to a press-and-trail scheme where some of his coverage deficiencies can be covered up. His physical gifts could get him overdrafted, but he can become an eventual starter if he hones his ball skills and finds the right scheme fit.

Johnson was a very long, fluid, bursty 6'2/213 track guy who played a little soft and didn't have great top-end speed. It's a fair comp for Calhoun (if you trade more athleticism and acceleration for Calhoun's instincts), but a weird fit for Hill that stands in direct contrast to how everyone else talks about the speed and penchant for playmaking.

It may just be that Trieu wants to emphasize the size. TTB also sees a "long athlete with good height and wingspan" and puts the fluidity in context:

Despite being a bigger corner, he has decent hips and an ability to change direction.

Broome describes a "lengthy, athletic ballhawk."

Late riser

Rivals was the only site to call Hill a 3-star, which is relevant because usually when they're lower on a guy than the consensus it means he didn't go to their camps, but Hill was one of the top DBs at RCS Indianapolis a year ago, though they didn't get his measurements. (Calhoun, OSU-bound teammate Jermaine Mathews, and 2024 WR prospect I'Marion Stewart are on there too—and I hate to say this but Matthews stands out again). However the only take from one of their analysts dates back to October 2021, when Clint Cosgrove marked him as the Midwest's breakout junior.

great example of a prospect that has gone from sleeper to the forefront of college coaches' attention. … The impressive early film, combined with the height and length that college coaches covet out of defensive back prospects, will surely make Hill a prospect that continues to garner attention.

Cosgrove was so disconnected by December 2022 he was shocked that Hill signed with Michigan.

The other sites all gave Hill a sizeable late bump at some point. Greg Brooks talked to Trieu and Cooper Petagna after the KC camp last May, and moved Hill up from an 89 (high 3-star) and 336th overall to a 92 and 158th overall.

Verified size and speed, ball production on both sides of the line of scrimmage, and strong live exposure on the elite camp circuit fuel Kanakee (Ill.) four-star Jyaire Hill's (No. 158) ascension into the Top247. …

Petagna: "Physical makeup matches the production and sets the foundation for his Top247 candidacy. Type of guy we want in because he checks multiple boxes."

He kept the 92 but fell back to 220th in the December/February re-rankings, which is outside the normal gravity.

On3's bump in August reached higher, nearly into the top-100, but they already had him in the low 200s by then. ESPN moved up him 80 spots within their top-300 after Signing Day, which almost never happens there. Even Rivals, the relative hater, shifted him up a few rungs in their CB rankings, though still 18 spots back from the last guy to make the top-250 (Wisconsin's Amare Snowden).

In most of these cases, it looks like Michigan's heavy pursuit was as much a factor as new tape.

Needs to put on weight

The other piece of Hill's development is he seems to have the mentality of a safety but not the muscle for it. Reimink listed "physical strength" as a weakness.

In the run game, Jyaire certainly shows the willingness to come up and make a big hit on the ball carrier. He also shows good pursuit and does a good job tracking guys down with his make up speed. He is a little slight of frame right now, so the more physical ball carriers will be able to create yards after contact against him.

This makes sense; Jyaire was playing safety at something between 185 and 170, or as EJ Holland put it, a "skinny 185." EdgyTim thought Hill should "continue to add more good size and weight.

The "Ben Herbert, do your thing" sentiment is universal in Hill's scouting reports up until Signing Day. However Sam Webb interviewed teammate Marques Easley, a 2024 OT prospect from Kankakee, who was in town for spring practice, and asked if he saw anything different.

Webb: So Jyaire's here. How did Jyaire look in practice?

Marques Easley: He looked good. He got bigger.

Webb: Bigger?

Easley: He got way bigger.

How soon until he plays?

National people (e.g. 247's Cam Salerno) are seeing the recruiting board, noting the fact that Michigan lost two CBs to the NFL, and struck out in the portal, and assuming Hill's a lock for early-impact freshman. Michigan people are seeing Ja'den McBurrows (welcome to the bandwagon!) and the Amorion Walker talk. I've been the guy in the Michigan media pumping the brakes the most, noting that Hill was a free safety in high school and Will Johnson—WILL I WAS COVERING DEVIN FUNCHESS BEFORE MY VOICE CHANGED JOHNSON—needed most of a year to pick up Michigan's scheme.

Reimink sees lots of refinement needed:

When in zone coverage, his eye discipline at the LOS and when the ball is in the air is marginal, as he tends to lose his WR a bit because his eyes are on the QB instead. When in man coverage, his footwork at the LOS is marginal, as he often false steps and gives his WR a two-way go, which makes it harder to defend the route. After the snap, Jyaire has the physical mindset to be a good press corner… solid mental processing speed.

The Wolverine's Anthony Broome admits Hill "will be drinking out of the firehose" to start. TTB's main concern is Jyaire "does not have a ton of experience with the techniques, body movements, etc."

Watching Hill in spring, yeah, you can't have major breakdowns, but Hill didn't look like he was swimming any more than Leon Hall in the MAC portion of his freshman season. One guy on my side is Jesse I'M LITERALLY THE DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR Minter listing guys who are a threat to start this year:

"I thought Ja'Den McBurrows had a good spring," he said. "I thought Keshaun Harris really, really stepped up and had a good spring. I thought Myles Pollard made some plays throughout spring. I think Jyaire Hill is going to be a guy. I don't know if I'll put him on Will’s track, but I think he's going to be capable of of helping us this year — just a really, really good, competitive mindset that it takes to be successful at that position."

Harbaugh was also impressed. Vance Bedford, who was coaching a switching Cover 2 scheme that Michigan developed under Lloyd Carr in the 1980s, points out cornerback is an island, but not the moon.

“It's easier to start in the secondary or play wide receiver than any other person on the football field, and I think (Hill) is a starter for you right now. If (Gemon) Green and (DJ) Turner decide to not come back, it's going to be hard to keep his young man off the football field. Even if they do come back, he's going to be playing quite a bit. I love this kid! I think that Michigan will have two good corners for the next two or three years with (Hill and Will Johnson).”

What about safety or nickel?

The depth chart right now makes that a thing for down the line, but it's definitely a thing. The thing about Michigan's more complicated schemes isn't the switching but that they run it from all sorts of different looks, which necessitates their cornerbacks actually learn a lot of safety. From Jyaire's father it sounds like they've been talking about versatility already.

”I want Jyaire to be versatile and learn everything about the defense, whether it’s nickel, corner, or safety. Knowing all of those positions will make him a better football player and better at communicating. He’s super athletic and super young which makes his ceiling super high. I want to see him all over the field.”

Kankakee DBs coach Shaquille Powell also made it sound like Michigan's looking at a cornerback who does other stuff while emphasizing Hill did it all in high school

“I think he may move around in the secondary. He can 100 percent be a lockdown corner. We threw him in at corner a few times every game in 1-on-1 situations. He always locked it down. But of course, he had the safety position on lock. We really liked his sideline-to-sideline speed. He flew around, breaking up passes and coming up with interceptions. He can play nickel, too. He can even play on offense. He can really play all over the field.”

Schools that offered him as a safety didn't get a lot of interest. Notre Dame was one of those schools. That give me an excuse to post this May 2022 Gut Check from Tom Loy:

Four-star safety Jyaire Hill — My gut feeling is that he’ll end up elsewhere. As of today, Notre Dame has higher targets on the board. They like him a good bit and he impressed at camp last year, but they seem to be all in on Caleb Downs, to go along with their commits in Peyton Bowen and Adon Shuler. But if things go south with Downs or it's not going to work out, keep an eye on Hill.

Things indeed went south with Downs (#6 overall to the composite), who ended up at Alabama, and also with Bowen (#16 overall), who flipped to Oklahoma. Shuler made it to South Bend but not before dropping well out of the top 50.

"Denard on Defense"

This is the other quote I got from my program insider. Jyaire isn't the kind of guy you need to scan around the room to know if he's in it. Werner:

Put the otherwise soft-spoken four-star Kankakee (Ill.) defensive back on a football field—whether 11-on-11 or 7-on-7—and you can’t get him to stop talking. “It just helps me and the team get better. If I’m hyped, they’re hyped,” Hill told Illini Inquirer. “That gets us started and we come back with a dub.”

Hill was loud and loquacious during Thursday's 7-on-7 camp at Illinois. A player who barely speaks above a mumble in some interviews, Hill walked into Memorial Stadium with a blaring boombox and an orange Illini “FamILLy” shirt. He screamed Kankakee’s defensive calls, which echoed off the stadium’s bleachers.

When the 6-foot-3 defensive back used his great length and closing speed to break up a pass, he let his opponent know about it. When he caught a touchdown pass on a post route, he let his opponent know about it. When an opposing coach complained about Hill getting too physical in what was supposed to be a simple two-hand touch exhibition—Hill definitely didn’t always abide by those rules—Hill just got more physical … and that let the opposing coaches know about it.

Powell made attitude the biggest part of his pitch.

“A college is going to get a true high energy guy and character with Jyaire. He’s a great athlete. He’s a fast learner. He’s a coachable kid. He’s an all-around great kid.”

He also did the Norfleet thing while waiting for kickoffs at the 2021 state championships. His coach's comparison to Deion Sanders was as much about attitude as athleticism. It's something his new coach, Jim Harbaugh used the words "super competitive."

Likes to make desserts. He is always making a dessert and he sells him at his school, actually. Very unique, creative individual. Super competitive.

Super competitive. Jim Harbaugh.

Unsurprisingly, Sam Webb said Denard was the coach that Hill especially clicked with. EJ Holland notes the moment that really sold Hill on Michigan was going bowling with Robinson, calling them "kindred spirits."

Special teams impact

Even if you don't see Hill at corner, they're probably going to get 13(+) games out of him on special teams. The first thing Harbaugh had to say about Hill was he's a "great athlete, game-breaker type guy as a kick returner and as a defensive back."

For Holland it was love at first return.

I fell in love with Hill as a player the first time I went out and saw him live as a junior. In that game, Hill took a punt return for a touchdown, dashed for another touchdown while playing quarterback and made several plays while lined up at safety. Hill quickly proved to be the most feared offensive weapon in the state of Illinois, while also doubling as a ball hawk. The dude is a flat out playmaker — both on offense and defense. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if you see Hill get the ball at least a few times during his career in Ann Arbor.

Same for Touch the Banner.

He's the type of player I might like to see on kickoff returns because of his speed and his ability to make cuts while maintaining top speed. As an all-around athlete in high school (playing QB, WR, RB, CB, KR), he should have an array of skills and experiences to bring to the table in college.

Etc. Track. Grew up an Oregon fan. Likes to make desserts. You all are aliens:

“Michigan is Mars to sum it up,” Hill said previously about Michigan. “Fan base is the alien population. The staff is over the top. They’re not shy at all. They know that they're a big-time university but they put you first."

Why Devon Witherspoon? I figured Ty Law might be a step too far since you'd have be in your mid-40s to have strong memories of him. Options since Law don't really capture the vibe—Marlin Jackson was bigger, and a 5-star, and I used him for Will Johnson; Ambry Thomas (understandably) only had the one post-colitis sophomore year; Hall/Lewis/Hill/Long were 3-5 inches shorter; I'm not going Woodson; and "Denard but cornerback" is cute but not very descriptive.

So then you look at Jyaire's recruitment, how Hill was second only to blubbering about officiating in Bielema's priorities, and that Illinois probably would have won this battle had they not lost DC/DBs coach Ryan Walters to the head job at Purdue at the end. There are similarities to Lions FS Kerby Joseph, another Walters project, but we all saw what they made of Witherspoon. PFF:

PROS

• Fiesty play style. A nuisance to every receiver lined up across from him.
• Elite click-and-close ability. Springy out of breaks.
• His ability to diagnose routes is second to none in the class. Heady corner.

CONS

• One season of high-end production. Pre-2022 tape was nowhere near Round 1 caliber
• Only 180 pounds. Still on the thin side for an NFL corner.
• Grabby and needlessly aggressive at times. Will get flagged more in the NFL.

That. All of it. Even, maybe especially the grabby part. Granted Witherspoon played in a mostly man defense. So fine: Ty Law then.

Guru Reliability: Low. They had plenty of Midwestern camps to see him, but few bothered to make their way out to Kankakee. Even the normally thorough Allen Trieu's last take is over a year old. Lack of SEC/USC interest was reciprocated.

Variance: Medium. He's raw, and extremely talented, and wants to get on the field.

Ceiling: Vast. Impactful freshman. Cornerstone of a ridiculously good secondary. Top-ten NFL pick. Maybe even a Hall of Famer. Ty Law, basically.

Flight Risk Level: Above average. Actually pretty high, except Michigan is probably willing to do whatever it takes to keep him too. The worries here are 1) the transition from the biggest thing to happen to his program to freshman at a title competitor, 2) he's not just learning Michigan's complicated schemes but cornerback itself, and 3) he had to be sold on early playing time to get him off of Illinois.

The first there's nothing to be done about. As for #2 and #3, remember that took Will Johnson, the most polished CB recruit of his generation, half a year before these coaches trusted him on the field. And Hill wants—is expecting to—follow Johnson's track when Michigan has several other options. Michigan also knows they have to use or lose Hill, and are already making it clear they intend to use him.

General Excitement Level: Very high. Defensive Denard. National rankings aren't going to make a guy with "raw" in his profile a five-star, understandably. Neither are they going to give one to a DB that Alabama, Ohio State, Georgia, and LSU ignored, and Notre Dame was keeping on the backburner in case their five-star safeties all slipped away. They saw Michigan battling tooth and nail with Illinois—ILLINOIS!—all cycle and I guess just figured Harbaugh was getting desperate.

But watch some of Hill, read the way people talk about Hill, and Michigan's desperation to get Hill this cycle starts to make a lot more sense. And they were, you know, desperate. I didn't really get it until the spring game. I thought it was they couldn't launch NIL as quickly as the schools that merely had to scale it, and had Harbaugh's NFL flirtations and the loss of Courtney Morgan around their necks, and needed a real cornerback in this class, and there wasn't really another good option. Maybe it was some of that. Maybe it's also that once you notice a Player like that, you can't take your eyes off him.

Projection: It's cornerback, not Particle Physics or Offensive Line, and it's not like projected #2 CB Amorion Walker knows the job any better than the new kid. The season's difficulty progression helps in both cases; Michigan can probably afford to have some young guys out there taking their lumps. I also expect Clinkscale will scale back the playbook and expand the rotation—last year they were running out two guys until Johnson was ready but four or five is pretty standard. I'm not predicting a freshman All-American impact like Will Johnson (or Charles Woodson), but something akin to the acclimation period of Jourdan Lewis, Leon Hall, or Marlin Jackson back when he was wearing #20.

After that, well, he's raw and everyone in that 2023 rotation is expected back in 2024. There's an outside chance that Hill pips Walker and McBurrows and the other backups this year, and a greater chance he charges up the depth chart to start opposite Johnson next year. Figure on rotation duty to start, a major contributor if not starter in 2024, and then "Jyaire" will really mean a thing in your head in 2025 and forever after. Six percent chance they have to update the punt returns vs Ohio State video.