Hill Hungry to Face Hokies
By David Villavicencio
HurricaneSports.com
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Four simple words said everything Trevon Hill wanted you to know.
THE WAIT IS OVER💣🦍#BEATVT pic.twitter.com/1Ph1u7lrh3
— Tre “Savage” Hill (@TreSavage94_) September 28, 2019
Miami’s redshirt senior defensive end, who arrived in Coral Gables as a graduate transfer from Virginia Tech, tweeted those exact words last Saturday after the Hokies’ game against Duke ended in favor of the Blue Devils, 45-10. It was officially time for Hill’s new team to face his old team and he could not be more excited about it.
“I can’t even express to you how bad I want to play in this game,” Hill said.
A year ago, Hill was a standout defensive end for the Hokies. But he was dismissed from the team by VT head coach Justin Fuente following their loss to Old Dominion, ending a his Hokie career after making 16 starts and finishing with 20 tackles for loss and 11 ½ sacks. After entertaining the possibility of turning pro, Hill opted to transfer to another institution for his final season of eligibility. He chose Miami, in part because of “the tradition they had, the type of defense they had and the type of people that I was going to be around,” Hill said. “I just felt like it was a home outside of a home.”
“I believe God has a plan for everybody,” Hill said. “I just take the good with the bad and run with it. I’m happy to be here in the position I am in. I ended up getting my degree out of it, so I can’t be mad.”
After earning his bachelor’s degree from Virginia Tech, Hill enrolled at Miami over the summer and tried his best to learn the defense and integrate himself in the Hurricane locker room. “I’m sure it’s an important game for him,” head coach Manny Diaz said. “But what I’ve enjoyed about him is the way he works. He’s gotten better every week because he’s kind of had to play himself back into shape starting in training camp because he missed some time in the summer. He’s been eager to learn, eager to work and I think his production has increased every week through the first four games of the season.”
Diaz and the rest of Miami’s coaches have been impressed by Hill’s work ethic, maturity and leadership. They are also happy with how he has improved from week-to-week. Now defensive coordinator Blake Baker is working to keep the 6-foot-3, 245-lb. defensive end focused on the big picture ahead of Saturday’s game against his old team.
“From a personnel standpoint, he’s maybe told us about certain guys and what he thinks are maybe their strengths or weaknesses,” Baked said. “He was there for three years, so he knows those guys from a day in and day out basis. From an energy standpoint, I keep telling him, ‘We don’t kick off until 3:30. Stay levelheaded and peak at the right time. We can’t win the game today.’ He’s done a really good job with it. He has been really levelheaded, he’s had a great week of practice and he’s continued to get better in our scheme every week. I expect a big game from him on Saturday.”
A big Saturday would build off Hill’s best performance in orange and green, as he had a season-high three tackles and recorded his first sack as a Hurricane in Miami’s victory over Central Michigan on Sept. 21. But Hill, who has six tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack over four games as a Hurricane, is hungry to accomplish so much more.
“It felt good, but I’m not satisfied,” Hill said of his play against Central Michigan. “It took me four games to get one sack, so I am pissed off about that. There is more to come.”
Fellow defensive end Jonathan Garvin believes Hill can be a difference maker for the Canes this season. Garvin, who is considered Miami’s top player in a deep defensive end group, characterizes Hill as “funny and entertaining, but hard working and serious when he needs to be.”
“He’s a Miami Hurricane,” Garvin said. “He’s really good. I’m glad to have him. He plays hard, he makes sure that everybody else plays hard and he’s a leader.”
Hill is all Hurricane, but he maintains a friendship with his former teammates at Virginia Tech. After three years at a program it’s only natural to have strong bonds with others, but Hill has no regrets about his decision to join the Canes.
“Of course we have a great relationship,” Hill said of his former teammates. “Me and those guys are close, so it was hard to leave, but I am here now and I’m happy to be with these guys and working.”
From the weather to the culture, things are very different at Miami compared to Virginia Tech. Hill also senses a different sense of pride in Coral Gables than what he knew in his home state of Virginia.
“The amount of players that come back here and show love, the national championships, it’s just a little bit different vibe down here with the tradition,” Hill said.
The veteran defensive player has made sure to let his Miami teammates know of keys to watch for and skills to prepare for ahead of the Hurricanes’ 3:30 p.m. matchup against the Hokies.
“I tell them things that they should look out for, some things I’ve seen on film and some things I already know,” Hill said. “It’s to help these guys out because we all want to win.”
One of Hill and his defensive teammates’ main duties this weekend could be stopping Virginia Tech quarterback Ryan Willis, who threw for over 2,700 yards and 24 touchdowns a year ago. The senior QB has battled injuries in 2019, but Hill knows Willis can be a big time player for VT on Saturday.
“Willis is a good quarterback,” Hill said. “I respect his game. But at the end of the day, he is wearing a VT and I am wearing a U so I have to get after him.”
With just one day to go before he finally gets his chance to play against his old team, Hill has done a good job of maintaining his composure ahead of the game. But he cannot wait much longer to show both sides everything he’s got.
“I’m a pretty poised guy,” Hill said. “But when it comes to game day, that’s when I turn it on. I turn it on in practice as well, practicing how I want to play, but game day is just a different mode.”
