STARKVILLE — Mississippi State coach Joe Moorhead backed up the offense.
Starting his unit at their own goal line during last Saturday’s scrimmage at Davis Wade Stadium, he told the group if they earned a first down, they could go the rest of the field.
Junior running back and Columbus native Kylin Hill wasted no time.
Taking a handoff on the first play of the simulated series, Hill gashed the defense for a first down and offered the offense a few more added attempts.
“I told him I’m going to do it on one play,” he said through a wry smile.
Though just a snippet of Hill’s dynamic playmaking ability, the sequence was one that only furthers the notion he is primed for a breakout season.
Battling a hamstring injury throughout 2018, Hill totaled 734 yards and four touchdowns on 117 carries despite missing two games. He also added another 176 yards and four touchdowns receiving.
Despite the slowed production, Hill has earned a number of preseason accolades — including being named to the Maxwell Award Watch List and a preseason third-team All-SEC selection.
“There’s a way we play the position, a way we play the game and he’s doing that right now,” MSU running backs coach Terry Richardson said. “I’m pleased with what he’s doing right now.”
Joined by senior Nick Gibson in this year’s running back tandem, the hype for Hill is as much in-house as it is peripheral.
Comparing the duo’s skillset, Gibson said he and Hill are similar to the University of Southern California’s Reggie Bush and LenDale White. For context, Bush and White combined for more than 3,000 yards and 40 touchdowns in 2005 — their final collegiate season.
“I think it’s going to be phenomenal,” Gibson said of running with Hill. “I think me and Kylin together probably is going to be the best thing Mississippi State has ever seen as far as running back.”
Richardson was less eager to compare the duo to past backfields, but would be plenty happy with a reincarnation of Bush and White in Starkville.
“It’s ok to have expectations, but if you’re going to talk about it you better be about it — you better live up to it” Richardson said through a laugh. “They can say what they want to say. The things I’m telling these guys is once the game starts we’ve got 60 minutes to get it done. So you can be whoever you want to be — it doesn’t matter to me as long as we get the job done.”
Though the praise is high for Hill, it’s warranted. In 2019 he averaged 6.27 yards per carry — good for No. 26 nationally and No. 5 in the SEC.
Further, with a clean bill of health and a renewed focus on handing the ball off in year two under coach Joe Moorhead, Hill stands to be the beneficiary in a system he could see 230-250 touches this year.
“We’re preparing for that,” Richardson said. “As much as he can handle.”
Beyond the statistics, there’s a new level of maturity to Hill’s game entering this year.
While injuries limited him to 11 contests last season, he’s taken on a new stretching regimen to strengthen his durability.
Hill has also taken on a more vocal leadership role with Gibson and freshman running back Lee Witherspoon.
“Every time I talk to him we talk about his maturation period that he’s going through right now,” Richardson said. “…It’s something we talk about. We practice and preach it because not only are we teaching these guys football, we’re teaching them to be better men and I think he’s buying into that and you’re seeing the results of that.”
Just a week out from MSU’s season opener against Louisiana in the New Orleans, fans need not be reminded of Hill’s first touch of 2018.
Receiving a swing pass from junior quarterback Keytaon Thompson near the left hash mark, he glided up-field. Weaving through four hapless Stephen F. Austin defenders, Hill raced into the open field and across the goal line for a 53-yard score.
And while he may not open the year in the same electric fashion he did a season ago, there’s reason to believe plenty of big plays from No. 8 are in store in 2019.
“I’m going to do it all,” Hill said. “If the ball comes my way I’m going to make it work.”
Ben Portnoy reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @bportnoy15.
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