Tyreek Hill (born March 1, 1994) is an American football wide receiver for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). Hill was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL Draft. He played college football at Garden City, Oklahoma State, and West Alabama.
A former track and field star, Hill played primarily a return specialist as a rookie but has transitioned to strictly playing wide receiver. Following his rookie year, he received the nickname "Cheetah" in reference to his speed. He has been selected to the Pro Bowl in each of his seven seasons in the league, won Super Bowl LIV with the Chiefs, and was named to the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team as a punt returner.
Early life
A native of Douglas, Georgia, Hill attended Coffee High School, where he won both the 100 meters and 200 meters at the 2012 Georgia 5A state meet.
On May 26, 2012, at the 36th Golden South Classic in Orlando, Florida, Hill ran a new season-best in the 100 m (10.19 s) and a personal record in the 200 m (20.14 s). His time in the 200 m missed Roy Martin's 1985 national high school record by only one hundredth of a second. Hill's mark was the fastest time by a junior athlete in the 2012 season and the fastest by a junior athlete since Ramil Guliyev's 20.04 s in 2009. His time in the 100 m ties Abraham Hall for second fastest by a junior in the 2012 season, behind only Adam Gemili. He was Track and Field News "High School Athlete of the Year" in 2012. Hill ran a wind-assisted (+5.0 m/s) 9.98 s in the 100-meter dash at the 2013 Hutchinson NJCCA Championships.
Hill was a USA Today All-American track and field selection in 2012.
College career
Garden City CC
At Garden City Community College, Hill ran track and played football. As a sophomore in 2013, Hill ran for 659 rushing yards and five touchdowns while catching 67 passes for 532 receiving yards for the Broncbusters football team.
Oklahoma State
Coming out of Garden City Community College, Hill was a highly sought-after junior college recruit and chose to attend Oklahoma State University.
On August 30, 2014, Hill made his debut for the Cowboys and caught a season-high six passes for 62 receiving yards in a loss to the Florida State Seminoles. On September 25, 2014, he caught his first career touchdown against the Texas Tech Red Raiders and finished the victory with three receptions for 50 yards, six rushing attempts for 39-yards, and three kick returns for a total of 62 yards. In the following game against the Iowa State Cyclones, Hill finished with a season-high 148 kick-return yards on five attempts and returned his first kick return for a touchdown of the season. On November 1, 2014, he gained a season-high 102 rushing yards on 18 attempts and scored his first rushing touchdown of the season against the Kansas State Wildcats.
On December 6, 2014, he appeared in his last game as a part of Oklahoma State's football team and helped them win a comeback victory over their rival Oklahoma Sooners after he returned a punt for a 92-yard touchdown.
Dismissal
On December 11, 2014, Oklahoma State dismissed Hill from their football and track teams for his domestic violence arrest a few days prior. In his only season at Oklahoma State, Hill had a total of 102 rushing attempts for 534 rushing yards and one touchdown, 31 receptions for 381 receiving yards and a touchdown, 30 kick returns for 740 return yards and two touchdowns, and 27 punt returns for 256 punt return yards and a touchdown. As a running back, wide receiver, and returner, he accounted for 1,811 all-purpose yards and six touchdowns. His 996 combined return yards ranked second in the nation. He was ranked 11th nationally in all-purpose yards.
West Alabama
On September 1, 2015, the University of West Alabama announced that Hill enrolled and would play football for the Tigers. West Alabama head coach Brett Gilliland has stated that he initially turned down Hill after he read the police report alleging how he choked and hit his girlfriend. However, after getting to know Hill personally, he spoke to people at Oklahoma State, Hill's former coaches at Garden City Community College, and a high school mentor. He was also swayed by a part of the plea deal that required Hill to either attend school full-time or be employed.