Kasim Ajani Hill (born December 9, 1997) is an American former college football quarterback. He played for Maryland, Tennessee, and Rhode Island.

Kasim Hill
No. 11, 20, 8
PositionQuarterback
Personal information
Born: (1997-12-09) December 9, 1997 (age 26)
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight234 lb (106 kg)
Career history
College
High schoolGilman (Baltimore, Maryland)
St. John's College (Washington, D.C.)

In Hill's first season with the Rams in 2020, despite the season being moved and shortened due to COVID-19 he helped lead the team to two back-to-back upset wins against ranked opponents. In the next season he led the team to a 7–4 record and had his best season as a starter to that point in his career. In 2021 he was a two-time CAA Offensive Player of the Week and a recipient of the NEFWA Gold Helmet Award. The following year the team repeated with the same record and won their fourth consecutive Governor's Cup and Hill's second consecutive. He beat all statistical career-highs in 2022 as the team was short of a playoff appearance, following the season he was granted his seventh, and final, year of eligibility.

Early life and high school edit

Hill was born on December 9, 1997, in Washington, D.C. He started his high school football career with Gilman School in Baltimore, Maryland before moving to and attending St. John's College High School in Washington, D.C.[1][2] Coming out of St. John's College he was a consensus four-star recruit according to all major recruiting databases, he was ranked the 93rd-ranked overall player in the class of 2017 according to Rivals.com.[3] He was named the 2017 Gatorade Player of the Year for Washington, D.C. as well as playing for Team Armour in the 2017 Under Armour All-American Game.[4][5] At The Opening's Washington, D.C. Regional he earned quarterback honors.[6]

As a junior at Gilman School he was an All-MIAA selection at quarterback while also being an honorable mention for the All-State Team.[7][8]

In Hill's senior year in 2016, he moved to St. John's College, where he was an American Family/USA Today All-USA Washington, D.C. First Team,[9] Washington Post All-Metro Honorable Mention,[10] and WCAC All-Conference Third Team selection.[11] He threw for 1,431 yards and sixteen touchdowns while also rushing for 885 yards and ten touchdowns.[12] He led the Cadets to an 8–4 record and an appearance in the WCAC championship game.[13] He received offers from Michigan, Penn State, and Michigan State but ultimately chose to play for Maryland.[14]

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Kasim Hill
QB
Washington, D.C. St. John's College High School 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 223 lb (101 kg) Apr 9, 2016 
Recruiting star ratings: ScoutN/A   Rivals:    247Sports:     ESPN: 
Overall recruiting rankings:   247Sports: 233
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "2017 Team Ranking". Rivals.com.

College career edit

Maryland edit

In Hill's true freshman season, he played in three games for the Terrapins—starting two. He made his college football debut on the road against No. 23 Texas in relief of injured Tyrrell Pigrome.[15] When he entered the game, Maryland had a lead and Hill closed out the victory by completing all three of his pass attempts and rushing for a touchdown.[16] He made his first start against FCS opponent Towson the following week as Pigrome continued to deal with his injury.[17] In the team's 63–17 win he went thirteen of sixteen for 163 yards and two touchdowns, the first of which being a nine yard pass to D. J. Moore.[18] His 81.3% completion percentage was good enough for seventh-highest in a single game in Maryland history.[10] He would start the following week against UCF,[19] completing both of his attempts before suffering a season-ending injury.[20][21]

In Hill's redshirt freshman season, he started the first ten games of the season for Maryland. He started the season against No. 23 Texas with a win where he threw for a then-career-high 222 passing yards, seventeen completions, and a career-long completion of 65 yards to Jeshaun Jones.[22][23][24] He started the season throwing 84 pass attempts before throwing his first interception against Temple, which would be the longest streak for a Terrapin's quarterback since Danny O'Brien in 2010.[10] On the season he completed 84 of 170 pass attempts for 1,083 passing yards alongside nine touchdowns and four interceptions.[25] In a game against Illinois he threw for a career-high 265 passing yards and three touchdowns.[26] He tied his career-high of three touchdowns again in a game against Rutgers.[27] After the season Hill announced he would enter the transfer portal.[28]

Tennessee edit

On August 22, 2019, Hill transferred to Tennessee.[29] In Hill's redshirt sophomore season, due to NCAA transfer rules, he did not play for Tennessee during the 2019 season and instead played for the Volunteers' scout team.[30] After the season Hill announced he would enter the transfer portal for a second time.[31][32]

Rhode Island edit

On November 28, 2020, Hill transferred to Rhode Island.[33] Rhode Island and the CAA would postpone the 2020 fall season and move it to the spring of 2021,[34] while also cancelling the final three games.[35] In Hill's redshirt junior season, he played in all three games for the Rams.[36] He made his debut against No. 6 Villanova after the team's original season-opener against Bryant was postponed.[37] Against the Wildcats he went eighteen of 28 for 246 yards and ran for 36 yards and the game-winning touchdown in overtime.[38] The next week against No. 18/19 Albany he went thirteen of 25 for 118 yards and one touchdown. In overtime of that game he once again ran for the game-winning touchdown.[39] In the team's final game of the year against No. 9 Delaware he went five of ten for 26 yards and one touchdown but could not come up with their third straight upset win.[40] He would be benched late in the third quarter for fellow redshirt sophomore Brandon Robinson.[41]

In Hill's redshirt junior season, this time the fall 2021 season,[42] he started every game for the Rams. In the first game of the season he completed twelve of eighteen for 249 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 33 yards and another touchdown in a 45–21 win against Bryant.[43] The team would win again next week against Albany as Hill went fifteen of 29 for 147 yards.[44] The Rams and Hill would win a third straight as he threw for 320 yards and three passing touchdowns and rushing for another to secure the Governor's Cup against Brown.[45] After his four touchdown performance against Brown he was named the CAA Football Offensive Player of the Week and NEFWA Golden Helmet Award winner.[46] The following game against Stony Brook he went 21 of 37 for a touchdown and he ran for 66 yards and another touchdown, both touchdowns coming in the fourth quarter.[47] He would win back-to-back CAA Football Offensive Player of the Week honors after that performance.[48] He would lead an upset win over No. 9 Delaware for the team's fifth straight win to start out 5–0.[49] Hill would then struggle for the next two weeks as the team lost three in a row to Towson,[50] Villanova,[51] and Maine.[52] He had a bounce-back game against Maine despite the loss as he threw for three touchdowns on eleven of twenty passing.[52] The Rams and Hill would upset FBS opponent UMass in Warren McGuirk Alumni Stadium 35–22 as he threw for 169 yards on eleven of twenty passing alongside two touchdowns, he also tallied two more rushing touchdowns on the ground.[53] The team would beat New Hampshire after a four touchdown day from Hill,[54] before dropping the last game of the season to Elon, where he threw the ball 55 times, completing it 31 times, and going for 394 yards and three touchdowns. Despite his dominant performance the team would lose 28–43 to Davis Cheek and Elon to finish the year at 7–4.[55]

In Hill's redshirt senior season, he was voted as team captain by teammates,[56] and he was one of thirty players nationally to be named to the CFPA National Performer of the Year Midseason Watch List.[57] He started all eleven games for the Rams and he helped lead them to the third-highest scoring offense in the CAA (30.6).[58] Hill started off the year going 17 of 32 for 236 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions against Stony Brook.[59] The next week he would go fourteen of twenty for 290 yards and two touchdowns against Bryant while surpassing 3,000 career passing yards at URI.[60] The team lost back-to-back games against Delaware and FBS opponent Pittsburgh.[61][62] Hill led the Rams past Brown to capture their fourth-straight Governor's Cup win.[63] In that game he was responsible for 331 yards of total offense and two touchdowns. The next week the Rams beat Elon,[64] and then in a game that went into seven overtimes Hill threw for 352 yards, three touchdowns, and a rushing touchdown against Monmouth.[65][66] The team lost by one point to William & Mary while he once again threw for two touchdowns and rushed for another.[67] Finishing out the year the team beat Maine,[68] lost to New Hampshire,[69] and on Hill's senior night they beat Albany 35–21.[70] In the final game of his career he threw for 105 yards and two touchdowns to cap off the year in which he threw for 2,588 yards, nineteen touchdowns and seven interceptions for his best season statistically.[71]

On February 3, 2023, Hill was granted his seventh year of eligibility.[72] In the 2023 season-opener, he threw for 408 yards and a career-high four touchdown passes in the 35–42 loss against Georgia State.[73]

Statistics edit

Season Games Passing Rushing
GP GS Record Comp Att Pct Yards Avg TD Int Rate Att Yards Avg TD
Maryland Terrapins
2017 3 2 1–1 18 21 85.7 230 11.0 2 0 209.1 12 60 5.0 1
2018 10 10 5–5 84 170 49.5 1,083 6.4 9 4 115.7 40 −15 −0.4 0
Tennessee Volunteers
2019 DNP
Rhode Island Rams
2020 3 3 2–1 36 63 57.1 389 6.2 2 2 113.1 33 49 1.5 2
2021 11 11 7–4 150 282 53.2 2,170 7.7 18 6 134.6 113 261 2.3 6
2022 11 11 7–4 177 327 54.1 2,592 7.9 19 7 135.8 107 268 2.5 7
2023 1 1 0–1 24 40 60.0 408 10.2 4 2 168.7 11 17 1.5 1
Career 39 38 22–16 489 903 54.2 6,872 7.6 54 21 133.2 316 640 2.0 17

Professional career edit

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump
6 ft 1+58 in
(1.87 m)
239 lb
(108 kg)
31 in
(0.79 m)
8 in
(0.20 m)
5.05 s 1.72 s 2.81 s 7.81 s 27.0 in
(0.69 m)
8 ft 5 in
(2.57 m)
All values from Pro Day[74]

Personal life edit

Hill is the son of Joe and Michele Hill. He has a younger sister, Kaylah, who has Down Syndrome. He is known to volunteer for feeding the homeless, mentoring for elementary students, and raising funds for the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS).[75]

References edit

  1. ^ "Football Recruiting – Kasim Hill – Player Profiles – ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  2. ^ "Kasim Hill, Rhode Island Rams, Quarterback". 247Sports. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  3. ^ "Kasim Hill, 2017 Pro Style Quarterback - Rivals.com". rivals.com. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  4. ^ "Kasim Hill 2016 – 2017 DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA FOOTBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR". playeroftheyear.gatorade.com. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  5. ^ McCracken, David (January 1, 2017). "Under Armour All-America Game Roster 2017: List of Recruits and Top Prospects". Bleacher Report. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  6. ^ Kirshner, Alex (April 17, 2016). "Maryland QB commit Kasim Hill earns Nike camp MVP award". Testudo Times. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  7. ^ "All-MIAA football teams announced". Baltimore Sun. November 20, 2015. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  8. ^ Schmidt, Josh (December 1, 2016). "QB Kasim Hill is ready to "do anything" when he joins Maryland football in 2017". The Diamondback. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  9. ^ "2016 ALL-USA D.C. Football Team". USA TODAY High School Sports. December 28, 2016. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  10. ^ a b c "Kasim Hill – Football". University of Maryland Athletics. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  11. ^ "WCAC Announces the 2016 All Conference Football Team". WCAC Sports. November 23, 2016. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  12. ^ "Kasim Hill's High School Timeline". MaxPreps.com. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  13. ^ St. John's Captures 2016 WCAC championship with Win over DeMatha 2/22/2016, retrieved January 24, 2023
  14. ^ Oppegaard, Martin (April 9, 2016). "2017 QB target Kasim Hill commits to Maryland". Inside NU. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  15. ^ Kirk, Jason (September 2, 2017). "Maryland QB Pigrome leaves with injury during upset bid vs. Texas". SBNation.com. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  16. ^ Eberts, Wescott (September 1, 2018). "Repeat of 2017 nightmare results in Maryland defeating Texas again, 34–29". Burnt Orange Nation. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  17. ^ Johnson, Lamar (September 5, 2017). "Maryland to start Kasim Hill at quarterback vs. Towson". Testudo Times. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  18. ^ "Towson at Maryland Box Score, September 9, 2017". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  19. ^ "UCF vs Maryland (Sep 23, 2017)". static.theamerican.org. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  20. ^ Stubbs, Roman (September 23, 2017). "Maryland throttled by UCF after Kasim Hill leaves game with injury". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  21. ^ "Maryland QB Kasim Hill suffered season-ending injury vs. UCF". WMUC Sports. September 25, 2017. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  22. ^ Jones, Kaelen (September 1, 2018). "Maryland's Jones scores on first three career touches". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  23. ^ Kirshner, Alex (September 1, 2018). "Tom Herman's Texas is now 0–2 against Maryland". SBNation.com. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  24. ^ Kendziora, Thomas (September 1, 2018). "Maryland football knocks off Texas, 34–29, in season opener". Testudo Times. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  25. ^ "2018 Maryland Terrapins Player Stats". ESPN. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  26. ^ Kendziora, Thomas (October 27, 2018). "Maryland football steamrolls Illinois, 63–33". Testudo Times. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  27. ^ "Rutgers Scarlet Knights vs Maryland Terrapins – October 13, 2018". FOX Sports. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  28. ^ Wilson, Mike (August 22, 2019). "Quarterback Kasim Hill transfers to Tennessee football from Maryland". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  29. ^ Bratton, Michael Wayne (August 22, 2019). "Tennessee reportedly adds former Maryland QB Kasim Hill via transfer". Saturday Down South. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  30. ^ "Kasim Hill – Football". University of Tennessee Athletics. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  31. ^ Calhoun, Caleb (August 10, 2020). "Tennessee football: QB Kasim Hill transferring again". All for Tennessee. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  32. ^ Panzica, Lucas (August 10, 2020). "Tennessee quarterback Kasim Hill transferring from program". Vols Wire. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  33. ^ Harralson, Dan (November 28, 2020). "Former Tennessee quarterback transfers to FCS school". Vols Wire. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  34. ^ Donahue, Hannah (October 2, 2020). "CAA announces plan for six-game spring football season". The New Hampshire. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  35. ^ Geoghegan, William (April 7, 2021). "URI cancels rest of spring football season". The Independent. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  36. ^ "Kasim Hill Named URI Starting Quarterback". ABC6. March 9, 2021. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  37. ^ "Spring Opener at Bryant Postponed". University of Rhode Island. February 17, 2021. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  38. ^ Steenkamer, Daniel (March 18, 2021). "Kevin Brown Jr. And Kasim Hill Are Sparking Rhode Island's Latest Surprise". HERO Sports. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  39. ^ "Hill lifts Rhode Island to 17–10 win on 1st play of OT". The Washington Times. Associated Press. March 20, 2021. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  40. ^ "Delaware vs. Rhode Island – College Football Game Summary – September 17, 2022". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  41. ^ Tresolini, Kevin (October 7, 2021). "Rhode Island game could have a big influence on UD's season". The News Journal. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  42. ^ Geoghegan, William (August 18, 2021). "College football: Returning to normalcy — URI preseason camp in full swing". Westerly Sun. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  43. ^ "Bryant vs. Rhode Island – College Football Game Summary – September 4, 2021". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  44. ^ "Rhode Island Rams vs Albany Great Danes – September 11, 2021". FOX Sports. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  45. ^ Olin, Loki (September 19, 2021). "Football opens season with loss in Governor's Cup". The Brown Daily Herald. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  46. ^ Coit, Nick (September 21, 2021). "URI QB Kasim Hill Named CAA Co-Offensive Player of the Week". ABC6. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  47. ^ Smoller, Mason (October 3, 2021). "URI Football Beats Stony Brook for Best Start in 20 years". Anchor Sports Network. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  48. ^ Washburn, Rob (October 4, 2021). "CAA Football Weekly Awards – October 4". caasports.com. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  49. ^ Kensing, Kyle (September 13, 2022). "CAA Games of the Week: Delaware-URI In A Top 20 Showdown – FloFootball". www.flofootball.com. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  50. ^ Towson Football Upends #12 Rhode Island 28–7, retrieved January 19, 2023
  51. ^ "Villanova football shuts out Rhode Island, 44–0, improves to 6–1". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Associated Press. October 23, 2021. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  52. ^ a b Koch, Bill (October 30, 2021). "Maine continues to haunt URI, beating the Rams, 45–24". The Providence Journal. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  53. ^ "Rhode Island tops UMass 35–22 for 2nd-ever win over FBS". BVM Sports. Associated Press. November 6, 2021. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  54. ^ Lessells, Allen (November 11, 2022). "UNH football to host rival Rhode Island in crucial CAA game Saturday". Portsmouth Herald. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  55. ^ "Football vs Rhode Island on 11/20/2021 – Box Score". Elon University Athletics. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  56. ^ "Four Named as Football Captains for 2022". University of Rhode Island. August 21, 2022. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  57. ^ "CFPA ANNOUNCES 2022 FCS MIDSEASON WATCH LIST" (PDF). collegefootballperformance. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  58. ^ "2022 Football – Overall Statistics". caasports.com. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  59. ^ Harralson, Dan (September 4, 2022). "Former Vols' quarterback records three touchdowns in Week 1 win". Vols Wire. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  60. ^ "Bulldogs fall to No. 22 URI Saturday night". Bryant Bulldogs. September 10, 2022. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  61. ^ Tresolini, Kevin (September 17, 2022). "Blue Hens put on prolific offensive display in CAA opener, Top 25 duel at Rhode Island". The News Journal. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  62. ^ Thompson, Stephen (September 24, 2022). "Israel Abanikanda's Career Day Leads Pitt Past Rhode Island". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  63. ^ Koch, Bill (October 1, 2022). "Here's how URI extended its winning ways over Brown in Governor's Cup". The Providence Journal. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  64. ^ "Martin's pick-6 carries Rhode Island past Elon, 17–10". AP NEWS. October 15, 2022. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  65. ^ Fenton, Josh (October 22, 2022). "URI Wins in 7OT, Moves to 5–2 on the Season". GoLocalProv. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  66. ^ Edelson, Stephen (October 22, 2022). "Heartbreaker! Monmouth football falls to No. 19 Rhode Island in 7 overtimes, 48–46". Asbury Park Press. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  67. ^ "Jones' sack seals William & Mary's win over Rhode Island". WTOP News. Associated Press. October 29, 2022. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  68. ^ "DeShields lifts Rhode Island past Maine 26–22". The Seattle Times. Associated Press. November 5, 2022. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  69. ^ "New Hampshire tops Rhode Island 31–28 with last-minute TD". Seattle Sports. Associated Press. November 12, 2022. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  70. ^ "DeShields runs for 204 yards, Rhode Island tops Albany 35–21". What's Up Newp. Associated Press. November 19, 2022. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  71. ^ "Kasim Hill – 2022 – Football". University of Rhode Island. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  72. ^ "Kasim Hill Granted Extension of Eligibility". University of Rhode Island. February 3, 2023. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  73. ^ "Rhode Island Rams vs. Georgia State Panthers Live Score and Stats – August 31, 2023 Gametracker". CBSSports.com. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  74. ^ "2024 NFL Draft Scout Kasim Hill College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
  75. ^ Giambalvo, Emily (October 24, 2018). "Maryland's Kasim Hill and his 12-year-old sister have each other's back". Washington Post. Retrieved October 13, 2022.

External links edit