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In the midst of their 63-6 rout of Stephen F. Austin to open the season, Mississippi State was literally running on all cylinders. Sophomore power runner Kylin Hill showed out and gave the maroon and white reason to believe that he is their primary workhorse going forward. Now that is not to say Aeris Williams is out of the picture by any means, but there is no questioning Hill’s talent and ceiling.
Hill flourished with 50 yards on the ground and a touchdown on nine attempts. He was a downhill freight train with a powerful stiff arm. Having made the most of his minutes, Hill also showed agility and a bit of finesse.
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But it was not only on the ground in which Hill shined. In today’s game, more and more backs are relied on in the receiving game. That said, Hill added a 53 yards reception for a touchdown.
While 103 total yards and two touchdowns were nothing short of sensational, how will Hill carry this momentum into Manhattan, Kansas and beyond? In addition, SEC defenses are only getting better. But Hill seems anything but fazed and ready for the challenges ahead.
After Hill’s opening act, it would only be right for head coach Joe Moorhead to name him the the starter. Comparable to his dynamic duo at Penn State in dual threat quarterback Trace McSorley and former superstar back Saquon Barkley, the Bulldogs could have something similar brewing with Hill and signal caller Nick Fitzgerald. Coming off his one game suspension, Fitzgerald and Hill will be a lethal combo debuting in Manhattan.
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Fortunately for Hill, “A-Train” Williams is the perfect mentor. The two will split carries at times, as a formidable running game is a must for the Bulldogs this season. Also able to run east and west, Hill is a versatile threat. It is almost Leonard Fournette esque, as his speed, versatility, power and size are more than similar.
While Hill may not be the flashiest back, he does seem reliable and that comes before anything. There are definite signs of exponential growth, resulting in big things ahead. Expect 100+ yards rushing and/or receiving in games to come.
Mississippi State is ready to roll and Hill is right in the thick of its new offense. Moorhead will have a field day with Hill and Fitzgerald, as the two are sure to pick apart defenses in and out of conference. Look for Hill to only build on these numbers, as his future outings will draw even more attention.