SIU's Hill gets opportunity as undrafted free agent
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Tuesday, 29 April 2008 09:27
Bears' No. 3 quarterback?
SIU's Hill gets opportunity as undrafted free agent
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/sports/920598,2_2_AU29_SIU_S1.article

April 29, 2008

By RICK ARMSTRONG This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

He may not have a big-time program pedigree, but Bears free agent quarterback signee Nick Hill has big-time work ethic.

That's the assessment of his former position coach at Southern Illinois University, Pat Poore.

"Nobody will outwork him," said Poore, who followed head coach Jerry Kill from Carbondale to DeKalb to join the Northern Illinois staff.

"The Monday after we lost to Delaware (20-17 in the national Football Championship Subdivision semifinals last fall), he was a man on a mission, back training. He is very driven."

In preparation for the draft, Hill also worked out with former NFL quarterback Steve DeBerg.

Poore is friends with Packers' coach Mike McCarthy and gave him a heads-up about Hill.

"I told him two years ago, 'You might want to keep an eye on this guy,'" said Poore. "I knew guys Mike had (coached) in North Carolina and I thought Nick had the intelligence to learn a system and, if given an opportunity, the chance to develop.

"I'm not saying he'll be ready (to start) tomorrow, maybe not two years, but you never know."

The 6-foot-3, 220-pound left-hander, signed a three-year deal Sunday night with the Bears, who didn't draft a quarterback and have only two (Rex Grossman and Kyle Orton) on their roster.

"He was close to being drafted," said Poore. "The Bills called late in the draft and said if they were gonna go with offense they were gonna take him, but they went with defense in the seventh round.

"Nick really liked the fit at Chicago anyway. He thinks he's got a good shot at being their No. 3."

Hill signed out of DuQuoin High School in downstate Illinois to play basketball for Dennis Felton at Western Kentucky. When Felton left for Georgia, Hill transferred to SIU and tried both sports the year he had to sit out.

"He was basically a 2-guard in basketball," said Poore. "He's got good quickness and things you can't coach, intangibles like savvy, moxie and the ability to make a play.

"He'd come to our 6 a.m. (winter) workouts and still go to basketball practices. And when basketball ended he joined us for spring practice."

Hill backed up four-year starter Joel Sambursky in 2005 and started the past two seasons. Last year he set five single-season SIU school records: passing yards (3,175), completions (258), completion percentage (.715) and passing efficiency (167.06).

"He doesn't have a Joe Flacco-type arm," Poore said of the 6-6, 230-pound Delaware QB who was taken No. 18 in the first round by the Baltimore Ravens.

"But I think he can make all the throws.

"I'm really happy for him. He deserves an opportunity. He's worked his tail off."
Last Updated ( Thursday, 08 May 2008 21:54 )