Former Oregon Duck Jamal Hill ‘very sharp’ at Houston Texans rookie minicamp

The Houston Texans selected former Oregon Duck linebacker Jamal Hill with the 188th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, filling a need after losing two of their defensive stalwarts to free agency. free. The first question is what can Hill bring to the defending AFC South champion Texans?

Hill was a two-year starter at safety for the Ducks before moving to linebacker for the 2023 campaign. He had a strong senior season with 31 tackles, five for loss and two sacks. Although he was not invited to the NFL Scouting Combine, he impressed scouts with his performance at Oregon’s Pro Day.

Specifically, his 4.41 time in the 40-yard dash would have led all linebackers at the combine. NFL.com’s scouting report on Hill’s speed noted that “his momentum allows him to catch missteps, and he can rush down running backs before they turn the corner.”

The next opportunity for Hill to impress is the Texans Rookie Minicamp.

“It’s day one,” coach DeMeco Ryans said with a laugh. “It’s more about teaching. Jamal, he was very attentive during the meetings. He is a very intelligent young man. So we are delighted to work with Jamal.

Also note that Coach Ryans is a former NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and a Pro Bowl linebacker. Although Hill displays the athleticism needed to play in the NFL, he can certainly learn a lot about the linebacker game from Coach Ryans.

Additionally, Hill joins a team that surprised many with a division title and a playoff victory over the Cleveland Browns. Overall, this is a chance for Hill to demonstrate his flexibility and willingness to do whatever he can to help Houston win games.