Football

Buckeye Receiver K.J. Hill Returning For 2019 Season

by Tony Gerdeman
Ohio State wide receiver KJ Hill touchdown Penn State

Ohio State receiver K.J. Hill announced that he would pass up a chance to enter the 2019 NFL Draft and would instead return for his senior season.

“First I would like to thank Coach Urban Meyer for giving me a chance to be a Buckeye. It was by far, some of the best moments of my life,” Hill wrote on Twitter.

“With that being said, and with the guidance and mentorship of Cris Carter, and my family, I have decided to take one last ride with my brothers, my coaches, and you, Buckeye Nation! I’m ready to lead us to another National Championship. I will be returning for my senior year.”

Hill finished his redshirt junior season with 70 receptions for 885 yards and six touchdowns. He finished second on the team in both catches and receiving yards, after leading the Buckeyes in receptions last season with 56.

His best game during the 2018 season came against Minnesota where he caught nine passes for 187 yards and two touchdowns in OSU’s 30-14 win over the Gophers.

He has three 100-yard receiving games in his career to date. The first catch of his career came in the 2016 season opener against Bowling Green and went for a 47-yard touchdown.

Hill enters his final season with over 140 receptions and over 1,696 yards, and a 35-game streak of catching at least one pass.

Originally from Little Rock, Arkansas, Hill came to Ohio State in the 2015 recruiting class as an Army All-American.

Hill’s decision to return gives Brian Hartline’s Zone Six unit a veteran voice following the departure of fifth-year Buckeye receivers Johnnie Dixon, Terry McLaurin, and Parris Campbell.

You can see a tweet with Hill’s announcement below.

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12 Responses

  2. Great move by KJ, helps himself and the team at the same time. Can’t wait to watch him in the Fall.

  3. Wilson and Babb will surprise and Willams has too much speed not to be a factor. Anyone who saw the All-star game with Wilson’s two long touchdown catches would tell you if they can get their jaw up off the floor that he’s the real deal!

  4. Great news as this will help out both the new QB and the new OL a TON to have three proven options at wideout! Next Fall just got a bit brighter!

    1. Remember back when KJ first flipped from Ar-Kansas? We talked about this young man being a high quality catching machine, and an even higher quality person. His returning for a final season is just more proof of the quality of character KJ represents. Like Roberto (my offbeat nick for Parris, T-Mac, and Johnnie………I’ll remember KJ’s name for decades. Fantastic young man.

      1. I do remember that. Nice when the excitement pans out. Weren’t you on the James Clark bandwagon, James? KJ should have a monster senior year regardless of who the QB is. I’m stoked!

        1. Yeah, I was high on James Clark coming in. Looking back I think that the injury against FAU hurt him psychologically as much, or even more than it did physically. When he returned he had lost that instant burst.

          I was more impressed with Johnnie Dixon. Remember I wanted him in the worst way to be the Buckeyes return man. Why? Because when he was coming in he had the ability to make 2 defenders miss him in a phone booth. His sandy knee’s took a lot of that quickness away. Unlike James Clark though, Johnnie Dixon persevered and overcame the odds to finally emerge. That’s not a knock on James. Everyone reacts differently to surgeries. Johnnie’s mind over ruled his body. James had a polar opposite result.

          1. And we’ll never know if James’ really was insurmountable or not. You’re right – every kid and every body is different and their injuries are different too. I just wanted Johnnie on the Field. As you say, kid had MOVES! Glad we got to see some of his magic in the Scarlet and Grey. I don’t think the pros will take him based on his knees but for his sake I’d like that to be wrong. If he doesn’t get a pro gig I’d love for him to be a GA to Hartline.

  5. BIG plus for the team. KJ, Olave, Victor and Mack should make for a great WR corps for whoever plays QB next year.

  6. Hill and Olave should be the two guys out front. Everyone else, should be vying for 3rd and 4th WR playing time.

    1. Best guy plays, sorry CP. we haven’t even seen the redshirts, the incoming freshman, or whether or not there’s gonna be any drop-off from Olave or improvement from Mack or Victor. It’s a bit early yet…

    2. Don’t forget about Austin Mack.

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