re: 2019 Football Recruiting Thread - Auburn Goes 4/7 & Land Brothers

Here’s the role Auburn football sees WR Matthew Hill filling as freshman (SECCountry)

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SNELLVILLE, Ga. — Matthew Hill can do it all on the football field. The incoming Auburn freshman played wide receiver, backup running back, safety and punt returner for Brookwood High School in Georgia.

But Auburn will focus his development on a specific offensive role once he gets on campus later this month. And Tigers coaches already have likened Hill to another former 4-star wide receiver from the greater Atlanta area, he said.

“They’ve basically compared me to Darius Slayton,” Hill told SEC Country. “His backup, basically, or on the other side of the ball on the outside. Coming in at punt return, too. They’ve basically said that I should be able to come in and get some good playing time as a freshman. That’s what I’m looking forward to.”

Auburn views Hill as a split end, the primary outside receiver who can run all types of routes. While Hill was a dual threat for Brookwood — he totaled 52 receptions for 879 yards and 7 touchdowns and 76 carries for 695 yards and 4 touchdowns as a senior — Auburn has only talked about him carrying the ball “just a little bit.”

“I think that Anthony Schwartz is really going to handle that, because you know how fast he is,” Hill said.

For Hill, though, playing split end with Slayton offers a quick path for playing time. With Nate Craig-Myers mostly spending time on the inside as a big slot receiver, Auburn could use a clear-cut option behind Slayton.

Auburn coaches haven’t shied away from saying Hill can be an instant-impact player.

“Because Will Hastings and Eli Stove had ACL injuries, they said since they’re out — they won’t get back until midseason — they said I should have a good role as a true freshman,” Hill said. “I can come in and make some good plays.”

Hill and Slayton already have a close relationship, too. Slayton, a junior from nearby Greater Atlanta Christian School in Norcross, was Hill’s main player host whenever he went on campus for visits.

“He went to GAC, so I had already met him,” Hill said. “Then my grandmother and his mother met, so they’re like best friends now. Our relationship is really close.”

Slayton has given Hill some key advice for what to expect this summer and during fall camp.

“Work hard,” Hill said. “Grind. Make sure you’re in shape because he said they’re going to try to kill me, basically. I need to be ready for it. No joke.”

Hill committed to Auburn last August. The Tigers held onto his pledge despite a big-time push from Clemson, which wanted the versatile Hill to play defensive back in the ACC.

But playing on the offensive side of the ball was Hill’s preferred route, and seeing Auburn’s passing attack post impressive numbers with quarterback Jarrett Stidham fueled his fire for the Tigers even more.

“It’s going to be a show, just slinging the ball left and right,” Hill said, laughing and shaking his head. “We have a lot of receivers coming in with different abilities. And we’ve got a good quarterback too in Jarrett. Mmm, mmm, mmm.”

Hill could play a big part to play in that show as a member of Auburn’s strong 2018 class at wide receiver. Seth Williams brings the size. Shedrick Jackson brings the versatility and his Auburn legacy as an early enrollee. Anthony Schwartz brings the world-class speed.

And what does Hill bring? Power that isn’t expected from a receiver of his size and a knack for scoring in several different ways.

“I’ve got to say I’m physical,” Hill said. “I can do stuff with the ball. I just feel like whenever the ball is in my hands, I’m looking to get into the end zone, regardless of the situation. Just know I’m ready to ball out.”

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Surprised to see that AU wants him to backup Slayton. Thought he would more of short yardage Eli Stove type of guy that carries the ball & gets a chance to run after the catch. Really hope he gets a shot at punt return

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Surprised to see that AU wants him to backup Slayton. Thought he would more of short yardage Eli Stove type of guy that carries the ball & gets a chance to run after the catch. Really hope he gets a shot at punt return

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Hill was wanted by Clemson, and maybe others, as a safety. I would think a guy with that type of skill set & ability would fit into more of a Slayton WR, who we also recruited as a physical DB for a long time til switching to WR late in the recruiting cycle. As Hill alluded to I figured Scwartz was the Eli role in the class.

Has there been any recent news on Sheffield? Haven't really kept up over the past few weeks and I thought I remembered him being close to committing.

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Has there been any recent news on Sheffield? Haven't really kept up over the past few weeks and I thought I remembered him being close to committing.

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Both Wolk & KN just keep saying "soon". I think Big Cat Weekend on June 2 is probably most likely at this point

His father is a farmer

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Has there been any recent news on Sheffield? Haven't really kept up over the past few weeks and I thought I remembered him being close to committing.

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Won't commit til his mom has another face to face with the staff. She has to sign off on it too. Like Paw said, probably BCW now.

Not like it matters. We signed a 5* OT in Calvin Ashley and he cant even break the starting line up

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oth Wolk & KN just keep saying "soon". I think Big Cat Weekend on June 2 is probably most likely at this point

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Any chance that maybe the coaches asked him to hold off and commit at BCW to create some positive energy there?

Seems like a smart tactical move, for sure. I'd buy that.

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Not like it matters. We signed a 5* OT in Calvin Ashley and he cant even break the starting line up

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Only a redshirt freshman so wouldn't hit the panic button just yet. His problem appears to consistency of effort more than talent. We will see how he responds this fall to fact that Troxell evened things up with him & we brought in a grad transfer. Grimes has said that Troxell had passed him but Ashley had picked things up in final practices to basically leave things at a tie so hopefully that's a positive sign

Consistent effort was something Montravius Adams struggled with too early in his career