NFL Dreams: Nick Hill's Pre-Draft Journal

By Nick Hill/Special to The Call, Du Quoin Evening Call

Saturday, January 12, 2008 12:46 AM CST

Hello everyone in Du Quoin, from now until the NFL draft in April, I will continue to keep you updated on the happenings in my life.

Right before Christmas I signed with Andy Simms, a sports agent who owns Players Rep sports agency out of Cleveland, Ohio. Signing with an agent was an exciting but also difficult time; it reminded me a lot of the recruitment process I endured prior to college. Throughout, there were many agents calling and telling me all the positive things they saw in me as a quarterback and, along with that, the many prospects they foresaw in my future if I were to sign with their agency. Ultimately, it was up to me, with the help of my family, to find the right guy for me, a guy that fit my interests.

The best and that would work hard to help me achieve my goals. In the end, I feel confident I have found that in Players Rep. The next thing I had to do was choose a place to train. I decided to train in Cincinnati, Ohio with Cliff Marshal at Ignition Sports. Cliff Marshall was a strength coach at the University of Louisville. He was also a strength coach for the Cincinnati Bengals, and currently trains professional athletes at Ignition. Thus, I am now living in Cincinnati, in a hotel suite, training everyday from 9-5. In this training, we work on speed, strength, flexibility, and position work. There are sports nutritionists and sports psychologists that work with us as well. In addition to me, there are about 12 other college athletes training here trying to make it to the next level.

The main reason I chose to train here was because of the individual attention I would have the opportunity to receive. Unlike the small numbers we have here, most other training facilities train anywhere from 30-50 players.

I would also like to take this chance to thank everyone for all of their support throughout my career at Du Quoin and also at SIU. It meant a lot to me to see so many people from Du Quoin at the games every week. If it wasn't for the town of Du Quoin I wouldn't be where I am today. Without Du Quoin's tradition and the desire instilled in young people to play football, I would have probably never played. I am very thankful and blessed to have been a part of that tradition.

Thank you to the DuQuoin Indian Nation !

Until next time, take care.

Nick Hill