Wes Hills

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Wes Hills
No. 31 – Michigan Panthers
Position:Running back
Personal information
Born: (1995-06-05) June 5, 1995 (age 28)
Wildwood, New Jersey, U.S.
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:218 lb (99 kg)
Career information
High school:Wildwood (Wildwood, New Jersey)
College:Delaware (2013–2016)
Slippery Rock (2018)
Undrafted:2019
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
  • USFL rushing yards leader (2023)
  • All-USFL team (2023)
  • Second-team Division II All-American (2018)
  • First-team All-PSAC West (2018)
  • Third-team All-CAA (2016)
Career NFL statistics
Rushing yards:21
Rushing average:2.1
Rushing touchdowns:2
Receptions:2
Receiving yards:1
Career CFL statistics
Rushing yards:404
Rushing average:5.5
Rushing touchdowns:1
Receptions:11
Receiving yards:105
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR · CFL.ca

Wesley Ed Hills (born June 5, 1995) is an American professional gridiron football running back for the Michigan Panthers of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football for Delaware and Slippery Rock. He signed with the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent in 2019 and played for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL), Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League (CFL), and New Orleans Breakers of the United States Football League (USFL).

Early years[edit]

Hills attended and played high school football at Wildwood High School.[1][2]

College career[edit]

Delaware[edit]

As a true freshman in 2013, Hills played in all 12 games for the Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team. He had 10 rushing attempts for 81 yards and a touchdown. He had 172 carries for 952 yards and six touchdowns, along with nine receptions for 53 yards in 2014. In the first game of the 2015 season, he had 16 carries for 88 yards before suffering a season-ending foot injury in the game.[3]

In 2016, he played in seven games with five starts at running back and had 88 carries for 728 yards and seven touchdowns. In a game against Maine on October 8, he rushed for a career-high 242 yards and two touchdowns and was named Colonial Athletic Association Offensive Player of the Week for his efforts.[4] He missed most of five games during the season with an injury. He earned third-team All-Colonial Athletic Association honors on November 22, 2016.[5] Hills was declared academically ineligible for the 2017 season on August 2, 2017.[6]

Slippery Rock[edit]

Hills transferred to Division II Slippery Rock on February 7, 2018,[7] after his Division I eligibility expired. In 2018, he had 246 carries for 1,714 yards and had 28 receptions for 193 yards.[8] His 1,714 rushing yards broke the single-season school record for rushing yards. Hills earned first-team All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division honors on November 14, 2018.[9] He was named to the second-team Associated Press Division II All-American team on December 12, 2018.[10]

In January 2019, Hills was selected to play in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, where after rushing for 78 yards and a touchdown, he was named game MVP.[11][12] He was also selected to play in the 2019 Senior Bowl, where he had two carries for 22 yards in the game before leaving with an injury.[13]

Professional career[edit]

Arizona Cardinals[edit]

Hills signed a three-year, $1.75 million contract with the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent on May 10, 2019.[14][8] He was waived with an injury settlement during final roster cuts on August 31, 2019.[15]

Detroit Lions[edit]

On October 9, 2019, Hills was signed to the Detroit Lions' practice squad.[16] He was released from the practice squad on October 19, but re-signed to the practice squad on October 23.[17] He was promoted to the active roster on December 14, 2019.[18] He scored his first two career touchdowns on one-yard runs in a 38–17 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on December 15, 2019.[19] Hills was waived on August 17, 2020,[20] but re-signed with the team three days later.[21] He was waived on September 5, 2020.[22]

Hamilton Tiger-Cats[edit]

Hills signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the CFL on March 12, 2021,[23] and spent most of his first season in 2021 on the practice roster.[24] He had 25 rushes for 132 yards in a week 18 game against the Saskatchewan Roughriders in October 2022, earning recognition from the league as a top performer for the week.[25] He finished the 2022 season with 69 carries for 384 yards and one touchdown, with 11 catches for 105 yards.[24] He became a free agent upon the expiry of his contract on February 14, 2023.[26][27]

New Orleans Breakers[edit]

Hills signed with the New Orleans Breakers of the United States Football League on February 17, 2023.[28] In week 3 of the 2023 USFL season, Hills set a league rushing record in a game with 191 yards.[27] He was named Offensive Player of the Week for his performance by the league.[29] He led the league in rushing in 2023 with 679 yards,[30] and was named to the 2023 All-USFL team.[31] The Breakers folded when the XFL and USFL merged to create the United Football League (UFL).[32]

Michigan Panthers[edit]

On January 5, 2024, Hills was selected by the Michigan Panthers during the 2024 UFL dispersal draft.[33]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Raven, Benjamin. "Wildwood's Wes Hills nearly brought to tears upon learning of start after long journey to NFL". Press of Atlantic City. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  2. ^ "Lions promote Wildwood's Wes Hills to active roster • Coast Sports Today". Coast Sports Today. December 14, 2019. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  3. ^ Tresolini, Kevin (August 29, 2016). "Delaware's Hills at top of his game". DelawareOnline.com. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
  4. ^ "Delaware's Wes Hills Named Colonial Athletic Association Offensive Player of the Week". BlueHens.com. October 10, 2016. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
  5. ^ Washburn, Rob (November 22, 2016). "CAA Football Announces Post-Season Award Winners". CAASports.com. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
  6. ^ Tresolini, Kevin (August 2, 2017). "Hills, Spears will not return to UD football team". DelawareOnline.com. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
  7. ^ Russo, John (February 9, 2018). "Wildwood's Wes Hills to play for D-II Slippery Rock". PressOfAtlanticCity.com. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
  8. ^ a b McManaman, Bob (May 14, 2019). "Wes Hills' unlikely journey to the NFL and the Arizona Cardinals". AZCentral.com. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
  9. ^ "Edinboro's Fletcher Claims PSAC Football Western Division Athlete of the Year Recognition; All-Conference Teams Released". PSACSports.org. November 14, 2018. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
  10. ^ Russo, Ralph D. (December 12, 2018). "Ferris State's Campbell leads AP D-II All-America team". APNews.com. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
  11. ^ Holtz, Jon (January 19, 2019). "Hills named MVP of NFLPA Collegiate Bowl". RockAthletics.com. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
  12. ^ "About the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl". nflpa.com. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  13. ^ Holtz, Jon (January 26, 2019). "Hills shines in limited touches at Senior Bowl". RockAthletics.com. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
  14. ^ Urban, Darren (May 10, 2019). "As Rookies Sign, Cardinals Make Handful Of Roster Cuts". AZCardinals.com. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
  15. ^ Odegard, Kyle (August 31, 2019). "After Cuts, Cardinals Arrive At Initial Roster". AZCardinals.com. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
  16. ^ "Lions sign free agent RB Wes Hills to practice squad". DetroitLions.com. October 9, 2019. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
  17. ^ "Lions sign RB Paul Perkins to active roster". DetroitLions.com. October 23, 2019. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
  18. ^ "Lions sign RB Wes Hills and T Dan Skipper to active roster from practice squad". DetroitLions.com. December 14, 2019. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
  19. ^ "Winston throws 4 TDs, helps Buccaneers beat Lions 38-17". www.espn.com. Associated Press. December 15, 2019. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
  20. ^ "Lions sign free agent RB Jonathan Williams". www.detroitlions.com. August 17, 2020. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
  21. ^ "Lions announce roster moves". DetroitLions.com. August 20, 2020. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
  22. ^ "Lions announce roster moves". DetroitLions.com. September 5, 2020.
  23. ^ "Tiger-Cats add five Americans to roster". TiCats.ca. March 12, 2021. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  24. ^ a b "Former Ticats RB Wes Hills signs with USFL's New Orleans Breakers". 3DownNation.com. February 17, 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  25. ^ "Tiger-Cats Hills and Carney Named CFL Top Performers of the Week". TiCats.ca. October 12, 2022. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  26. ^ "2023 CFL Transactions". CFL.ca. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  27. ^ a b DeArdo, Bryan (May 10, 2023). "USFL Week 5 Power Rankings: Wes Hills powers Breakers' undefeated start". CBSSports.com. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  28. ^ @USFLBreakers (February 17, 2023). "Free Agent Signings" (Tweet). Retrieved February 17, 2023 – via Twitter.
  29. ^ "USFL Players of the Week: Wes Hills, Reuben Foster shine in Week 3". FoxSports.com. May 1, 2023. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  30. ^ Anderson, Brett (June 19, 2023). "USFL 2023 playoff semifinals set, how to watch, preview: Breakers-Stallions rematch, Panthers-Maulers surprise". CBSSports.com. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  31. ^ DeArdo, Bryan (June 21, 2023). "All-USFL team announced ahead of postseason: Maulers, Generals tie with five selections each". CBSSports.com. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  32. ^ Seifert, Kevin (January 1, 2024). "Newly formed United Football League sets 8 markets, tabs coaches". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  33. ^ "2024 UFL Team Rosters". TheUFL.com. Retrieved January 19, 2024.

External links[edit]

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