Mississippi State RB Kylin Hill opts out of 2020 season to prepare for 2021 NFL Draft

STARKVILLE, Miss. — Mississippi State senior running back Kylin Hill officially announced on Tuesday that he is opting out of the 2020 season to prepare for the 2021 NFL Draft.

Hill announced the news in an Instagram post.

“2020 has been an unprecedented year, filled with uncertainty due to a pandemic that has forced all of us to adapt as best as possible,” Hill wrote in the post. “With that, and after much prayer and discussion with my family, I have decided to opt out for the remainder of the season and declare for the 2021 NFL Draft. This has been an incredibly difficult decision, but one that I feel is best for me at this time.”

Hill, who played in three games this season, rushed for 58 yards on 15 carries and caught 23 passes for 237 yards and a touchdown. Hill accounted for 192 yards and a touchdown in a 44-34 win over LSU to open the season. He then missed all but one series of the Arkansas game because of an injury. He was suspended for the Texas A&M game and was “unavailable” for last week’s game against No. 2 Alabama.

In his Mississippi State career, Hill totaled 2,535 yards rushing and 16 rushing scores on 452 carries. He also caught 67 balls for 631 yards and six more scores.

As a junior, Hill rushed for 1,350 yards and 10 touchdowns. He was the Southeastern Conference’s leading rusher and earned first-team all-SEC honors.

He entered the national spotlight during the offseason as he advocated for the state of Mississippi to remove the Confederate emblem from its state flag. The flag was eventually changed, and Hill’s hometown of Columbus, Mississippi, awarded him with a city key in honor of his stand.

“Mississippi will always be my home,” Hill wrote in his post. “We’ve made history together, both on and off the field, and as we move on to the next level, that work will only continue.”

Instagram (@k.hill8)