Dominic Hill’s newfound motivation comes from a place he would have never predicted.
The Kent State University redshirt junior nose-tackle and his girlfriend recently became parents to a baby, throwing his life for major change while giving him focus all at the same time.
“Now I have an even bigger reason to get up for practice,” Hill recently told the school’s website. “I have a reason to go to class and I am getting done what needs to be done.”
The Boswell High grad’s raised dedication has been reflected in his play, with the 6-foot, 277 pounder nearly doubling the number of tackles he had in all of 2017 over the team’s first 12 games this season.
And even though the Golden Flashes have struggled to a 2-10 showing, coaches agree they’ve seen marked improvement in Hill’s approach to things.
“It is hard to change overnight, but I think he is in a better place mentally and is more mature than he was before,” defensive line coach Colin Ferrell told KentStateSports.com. “The habits of doing the right thing are making him a much better player.”
On the season, Hill has 15 tackles, eight of them solo, and a sack. During his senior season at Boswell, he recorded 58 tackles and six sacks in being named all-state second team.
