2011 NFL Draft Prospect Profile: Will Hill, S, Florida

When the New York Giants worked out 2011 NFL Draft prospects with local ties recently, Mike Garafolo of the Star-Ledger focused his initial report on Florida safety Will Hill, a West Orange, N.J. native. Garafolo says the Giants are "intrigued" by Hill -- which might mean something, or absolutely nothing.

Either way, let's use today's 2011 NFL Draft prospect profile to take a closer look at Hill. There are character concerns about this player that the Star-Ledger also detailed around the time of the NFL Scouting Combine.

The scouting reports are after the jump. Make up your own minds as to whether or not you think a player like this is worth a late-round flier.

Will Hill
S, Florida
6-foot-1, 202 pounds
Projection: Middle to late rounds

Scouting Reports

From NFL.com:

Strengths:
Hill has ideal size and good speed. Very smooth athlete. Can close in a hurry. Very comfortable in deep cover-2 and capable of playing center field. Possesses good hands and takes good routes to the football. Flashes the ability to be very productive and physical in run support. Excels on special teams coverage units.

Weaknesses:
Instincts and awareness still need work. Can be a tick late reacting to receivers in his zone or coming up in run support. Sucked in by play-action at times. Bit of a high-cut guy who may have trouble mirroring quicker slots. Needs to be more consistently physical against the run.

Overview:
Hill has the frame, athleticism and ceiling for development to eventually become a quality starting safety. However, currently lacks overall consistency and awareness. Capable of playing the point, the deep half and coving tight ends and bigger receivers in man coverage. May struggle against savvy route-runners and shifty slots. Flashes the ability to be really productive against the run but doesn't appear to always play with enough aggressiveness in this area. Has good ball skills but needs to be more physical in 50-50 situations. His value in enhance by extensive special teams coverage experience. Hill's not there yet, but will still be a mid-round pick.

From Rivals.com:

Positives:
Good size and speed. Chiseled physique with less than four percent body fat. Comfortable in center field. Reliable tackler as the last line of defense — can come to balance in space. Closes fast when he sees it. Good hands to intercept. Productive on special teams.

Negatives:
Very immature with questionable character — lacks focus and discipline and could embarrass an organization. Inconsistent. Is a bit high-cut and tight-hipped. Needs to get stronger. Has a choppy pedal and does not explode out of breaks. Average eyes and instincts — does not anticipate plays unfolding. Average range — lacks the burst to get over the top. Inconsistent run fits. Not a great leaper. Does not play with urgency or abandon.

Summary:
Did not live up to the hype in Gainesville and was used extensively as a single-high safety, limiting his playmaking opportunities. Has starter-caliber talent but is not instinctive, and his upside might not be worth the risk developing. Comes with a "buyer beware" tag and has been knocked off teams’ draft boards for character concerns.