Austin Hill may have been destined to play Division I football.
Hill’s father, Steve, played defensive back for Ohio State in the 1980s. His brother, Hunter, was a wide receiver at Memphis the past two seasons before transferring to Bryant as a graduate student.
Perhaps, Hill was destined to attend West Point. Bill Ervin, his grandfather, is a graduate of the academy.
Hill, a senior linebacker at Evangelical Christian (Tenn.), will continue his family’s tradition after recently announcing his commitment to Army.
“Playing Division I football has been the expectation and dream since I can remember,” Hill said. “It’s an honor to go to such a prestigious university and be able to serve my country in the best way possible. My grandfather is a West Point grad so it was huge that I committed and such an honor to him as well.”
Connections with defensive coordinator John Loose, outside linebackers coach Matt Hachmann and wide receivers coach Marcus Edwards, his recruiter, influenced Hill’s decision.
“It’s a perfect fit for me,” Hill said. “It’s a top 25 football program with an unbeatable education and a degree that presents amazing opportunities.”
Hill said he was impressed with “everything” during his West Point visit in June.
“The facilities are second to none,” Hill said. “The weight program is phenomenal. I loved the atmosphere.”
Hill, who is 6-foot-1 and 225 pounds, said he can play either outside or inside linebacker in Army’s scheme.
“Being able to play both positions and fit the criteria of both positions was huge because it allows me to at least try both out and find which one fits me best,” Hill said.
Family tradition aside, Army’s success over the last three seasons with 29 victories was another selling point for Hill.
“Everyone wants to go play for a winning football team,” Hill said.
2020 commits (42)
SB Aaron Adams, 5-9, 165, Suncoast HS, Riviera Beach, Fla.: First offer – Army.
QB Donovan Anthony, 6-1, 192, Washington Wilkes HS, Washington, Ga. (COMMITTED, June 22)
S Hamilton Baker, 6-1, 200, Daphne (Ala.) HS: Other offers – Navy, Air Force, Troy, South Alabama, Central Michigan, Coastal Carolina. Army official visit – June 14-16.
LB Dominick Barbuto, 6-2, 225, Lynbrook (N.Y.) HS: (COMMITTED, July 15)
QB Quincy Bonner, 6-2, 165, Meadowcreek HS, Norcross, Ga.
RB Jeremiah “Lucky” Brooks, 5-11, 205, Acadiana HS, Lafayette, La.
TE-DE Bryant Burns, 6-3, 228, Ozark (Ark.) HS: Other offers – Appalachian State. (COMMITTED, April 22)
LB Connor Butt, 6-1, 215, Notre Dame Prep, Scottsdale, Ariz.: Other offers – Navy. Army visit – June 11.
S Kaiser Cambra-Cho, 6-2, 195, St. Louis HS, Honolulu, Hawaii: Other offers – Air Force. (COMMITTED, May 25)
S Adam Cash, 6-foot, 200, Mansfield Timberview HS, Arlington, Texas: Other offers – Navy, Air Force (COMMITTED, July 30)
FB Charlie Cole, 6-2, 225, Daniel Boone HS, Gray, Tenn.: Other offers – Navy, Tulane.
RB Jarel Dickson, 6-foot, 215, Peabody HS, Trenton, Tenn.: 2018 stats – 1,260 rushing yards, 24 touchdowns. Other offers – Navy, Miami (Ohio), Western Kentucky. (COMMITTED, June 17)
DB Javon Ellis, 6-1, 180, Phillips HS, Chicago, Ill.: (COMMITTED, July 18)
DE Rodney Faulk, 6-3, 230, Gonzaga HS, Washington, D.C.: Other offers – Navy, Central Michigan. Maryland resident. (COMMITTED, June 14)
OL Jackson Filipowicz, 6-2, 245, Blessed Trinity HS, Roswell, Ga.: Other offers – Navy, Air Force. Three-year starting center. (COMMITTED, August 6)
C Aidan Gaines, 6-1, 285, Rome (Ga.) HS: Two-year starter. Other offers – Navy, Air Force. (COMMITTED, June 16)
QB Collin Guggenheim, 5-11, 205, John Curtis Christian HS, River Ridge, La.: 2018 stats – 1,128 rushing yards, 15 touchdowns, 1,096 passing yards,
FB Kee Hawkins, 5-11, 215, Live Oak HS, Watson, La.: First offer – Army. (COMMITTED, June 21)
LB Austin Hill, 6-1, 225, Evangelical Christian HS, Cordova, Tenn.: (COMMITTED, August 8)
T David Hoyt, 6-6, 280, Tampa (Fla.) Catholic HS: Ranked 90th-best tackle of the 2020 class by 247 Sports. Other offers – Rutgers, Louisville, Illinois, Buffalo, Western Kentucky, Western Michigan, Tulane, Toledo, Ohio, Colorado State, Middle Tennessee State, Southern Mississippi, Liberty. (COMMITTED, March 30)
P-K Albert Jang, 6-2, 185, Peachtree Ridge HS, Suwanee, Ga. Other offers – Air Force (May 6) (COMMITTED, March 1)
CB AJ Jefferson, 5-11, 180, Indian Land HS, Fort Mill, S.C.: Other offers – Air Force. (COMMITTED, August 1)
SB Bishop Johnson, 5-8, 170, Jefferson HS, Lafayette, Ind.: (COMMITTED, August 12)
WR Brandon Jones, 6-2, 190, Bishop Sullivan HS, Virginia Beach, Va.: Other offers – Navy, Liberty (COMMITTED, August 10)
CB Devin Lardge, 5-11, 180, Stafford HS, Falmouth, Va.: (COMMITTED, July 12)
DE Andre Miller, 6-3, 235, Savannah (Ga.) Country Day School: Army visit – June 14-16. Other offers – Navy, Colorado, Florida Atlantic, Florida International, Akron, Appalachian State, Southern Mississippi, Liberty, Coastal Carolina. (COMMITTED, June 16)
S Leo Lowin, 6-1, 190, Westlake HS, Austin, Texas: Other offers – Air Force. Chose Army over Harvard (COMMITTED, August 1)
OL Kaleb Luna, 6-2, 305, Ellison HS, Killeen, Texas: Other offers – Navy, Texas State, Louisiana-Lafayette. Named upperclassman offensive line MVP at 2019 Army prospect camp. Father, Robert, served 17.5 years in the Army. (COMMITTED, August 5)
RB Dillan Monette, 5-7, 160, Acadiana HS, Lafayette, La. (COMMITTED, May 2)
CB Dominic Morris, 5-11, 160, Klein Oak HS, Spring, Texas: Other offers – Air Force, Louisiana-Monroe. (COMMITTED during official visit June 14-16)
OL Raleigh Oxendine, 6-2, 272, Jesuit HS, Tampa, Fla.: Other offers – Air Force (COMMITTED, June 28)
C Aidan Perkins, 6-2, 280, Brookwood HS, Snellville, Ga.: Other offers – Air Force, Troy, Arkansas State, South Alabama. Two-year starter at center moving to tackle his senior season. (COMMITTED, July 28)
LB Jackson Powell, 6-2, 220, Buford (Ga.) HS: Brother of Army sophomore offensive lineman Dean Powell. Other offers – Air Force, Syracuse, Virginia Tech, Pittsburgh, Louisville, Georgia Southern, Cincinnati, Memphis, Troy, Appalachian State, Ball State, Bowling Green, Liberty, Middle Tennessee State, Coastal Carolina
QB RJ Rosales, 5-10, 178, Evangelical Christian HS, Fort Myers, Fla.: Other offers – Navy, Air Force. Threw for 4,950 yards and 59 touchdowns in three seasons at Immokalee (Fla.) High. (COMMITTED, July 8)
DE Spencer Roy, 6-4, 245, Notre Dame Prep, Scottsdale, Ariz.: First offer – Army. Army visit – June 20. (COMMITTED, July 31)
LB Harrison Thomas, 6-1, 223, Clearwater (Fla.) Central Catholic HS: Other offers – Southern Mississippi. Army visit – June 5. 2018 stats – 19 tackles for loss, 11 sacks.
QB Delshawn Traylor, 5-11, 180, Helix HS, La Mesa, Calif.: Unofficial visit – June 17. Recruited as a safety by Air Force but not offered. First offer – Army. (COMMITTED, June 17).
LB Camden Vining, 6-1, 226, Saint Stephen’s Episcopal HS, Bradenton, Fla.: (COMMITTED, July 26)
LB De’Andre Wilborn, Westinghouse HS, Chicago, Ill.: Army visit – June 14-16. (COMMITTED, June 17)
RB-LB A.J. Williams, 6-1, 210, Aquinas HS, Augusta, Ga.: Army visit – June 14-16. Other offers – Navy. (COMMITTED, June 14-16).
DB Spencer Williams, 6-foot, 180, Jesuit HS, Tampa, Fla.: Other offers – Navy, Georgia State. Army visit – June 13-16 (COMMITTED, August 1)
S Tommy Zitiello, 6-2, 185, Ponte Vedra (Fla.) HS: Other offers – Navy. (COMMITTED, June 7)
2020 commitments by state – Georgia (9), Florida (8), Louisiana (4), Texas (4), Tennessee (3), Arizona (2), Illinois (2), Virginia (2), Alabama (1), Arkansas (1), California (1), Hawaii (1), Indiana (1), Maryland (1), New York (1), South Carolina (1)
