The Vikings might have found a diamond in the rough by signing former Texas Longhorns cornerback Holton Hill as an undrafted free agent.
Hill was expected to be a fourth- or- fifth-round pick but fell out of the draft before signing with Minnesota.
So why’d he go undrafted?
According to Bleacher Report, Hill was one of three players who failed a drug test during the NFL Combine in Indianapolis. That, coupled with a suspension for violating team rules at Texas last season, might have something to do with it.
“We’ve done our due diligence,” Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer said when asked about Hill’s character on Friday. “We have talked with every one of his coaches that he’s ever had in his entire life, I think. We’ve talked to a lot of people there at the Unviersity of Texas and we feel comfortable with the situation.”
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Physically, Hill looks the part. He’s 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds and ran his 40-yard dash in 4.49 seconds during the combine.
Before missing the final three games because of his suspension, Hill was being praised as Texas’ best defensive player, showing shutdown ability against two of the highest-profile wide receivers in the draft, Oklahoma State’s James Washington and Baylor’s Denzel Mims, according to Burnt Orange Nation.
“He’s a good football player,” Zimmer added. “Big, fast, tough, good tackler. We’ve had a lot of conversations with him. I’m excited. He’s got a chance, if he comes in here and does what we ask him to do, he’s got a chance.”
If Hill is indeed legit he’ll only add to Minnesota’s unending depth at cornerback. Already in the mix are Xavier Rhodes, Trae Waynes, first-round pick Mike Hughes, Terence Newman, Mackensie Alexander and Marcus Sherels.
