Lavert Hill Explained

Lavert Hill
Current Team:St. Louis Battlehawks
Number:24
Position:Cornerback
Birth Date:3 October 1998
Birth Place:Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Height Ft:5
Height In:10
Weight Lb:190
High School:Martin Luther King
(Detroit, Michigan)
College:Michigan
Undraftedyear:2020
Pastteams:
Status:Active
Highlights:
  • All-XFL Team (2023)
  • 2× First-team All-Big Ten (2018, 2019)
  • Second-team All-Big Ten (2017)
Pfr:HillLa01

Lavert Hill (born October 3, 1998) is an American football cornerback for the St. Louis Battlehawks of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football at Michigan. He helped Martin Luther King High School earn the 2015 Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 2 championship and played in the 2016 U.S. Army All-American Bowl. He was recognized as the Lockheed Martin Air Defender of the Year as the nation's top high school defensive back. As a junior at Michigan, he was a 2018 All-Big Ten first-team selection by both the coaches and media. He is the younger brother of Lano Hill.

Early career

In January 2015 Hill gave a verbal commitment to Penn State and transferred from Cass Technical High School to Martin Luther King High School.[1] [2] In November 2015, Hill decommitted from Penn State.[3] As a high school senior, Hill tallied 12 interceptions (3 for touchdowns).[4] Hill made several catches, including two touchdowns as part of Martin Luther King's comeback victory in the 2015 Michigan High School Athletic Association Class 2 championship game over Lowell High School.[5] His brother, Lano, had won two Michigan High School Athletic Association championships at Cass Tech.[6] Lavert Hill was a participant in the 2016 U.S. Army All-American Bowl.[7] He earned the Lockeed Martin Air Defender of the Year honor as the top defensive back in the national class of 2016.[8] On February 2, 2016, he signed with Michigan with the anticipation of playing in the same defensive backfield as his brother for the first time.[9]

College career

Hill's mentors at Michigan were Cass Tech alums cornerback Jourdan Lewis and his safety brother.[4] He made his debut on September 3, 2016, against Hawaii in the season opener as one of 17 true freshmen to appear in the game.[10] Hill's first career start was for the 2017 Michigan Wolverines football team against Florida on September 2, 2017. He had an interception return for a touchdown a week later against Cincinnati.[11] Following the season Hill earned 2017 All-Big Ten team recognition from the coaches (second-team) and the media (honorable mention).[12] [13] His brother, Lano, had been a second-team (coaches) and honorable mention (media) honoree for the 2016 All-Big Ten team.[14] On October 13, 2018, against Wisconsin, Hill recorded a 21-yard interception return for a touchdown. He became the third player in Michigan program history to register two interception returns for touchdowns, following Lance Dottin and Thom Darden.[15] Following the 2018 season, Hill was named to the 2018 All-Big Ten defensive first-team by both the coaches and media.[16] During the 2019 season, Hill led the Big Ten in passer rating against (23.9 passer rating allowed), and made 15 tackles with a team-leading 12 pass breakups (nine breakups, three interceptions). Following the season, Hill was named to the 2019 All-Big Ten defensive first-team by both the coaches and media.[17]

Professional career

Kansas City Chiefs

Hill signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent on April 26, 2020.[18] He was waived during final roster cuts on September 5, 2020.[19] He was signed to the practice squad the following day.[20] He was released on November 24, 2020.[21]

Philadelphia Eagles

On December 8, 2020, Hill was signed to the Philadelphia Eagles practice squad.[22] He signed a reserve/future contract with the Eagles on January 4, 2021.[23] He was waived on August 23, 2021.

Arizona Cardinals

On October 26, 2021, Hill was signed to the Arizona Cardinals practice squad.[24] He was released on November 1.

San Francisco 49ers

On December 15, 2021, Hill was signed to the San Francisco 49ers.[25]

Cleveland Browns

On August 5, 2022, Hill signed with the Cleveland Browns.[26] Hill was waived with an injured designation on August 30;[27] after clearing waivers, he reverted to the Browns' injured reserve list on August 31. He was released on September 9.

St. Louis Battlehawks

On February 1, 2023, Hill signed with the St. Louis Battlehawks of the XFL.[28] In 10 games, Hill recorded 25 tackles and 2 interceptions. Following the season, he was named to the All-XFL Team.[29]

Pittsburgh Steelers

On August 14, 2023, Hill signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers.[30] He was waived on August 28, 2023.[31]

St. Louis Battlehawks (second stint)

On January 31, 2024, Hill re-signed with the St. Louis Battlehawks.[32]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Penn State 2016 recruiting: Stud 5-star DT Rashan Gary highlights 'All-Wish List' defense. November 29, 2017. March 4, 2015. PennLive.com. Hockensmith, Dustin.
  2. Web site: Coaches bemoan transfers as King stockpiles talent. November 29, 2017. April 12, 2015. The Detroit News. Goricki, David.
  3. Web site: Four-star CB Lavert Hill decommits from Penn State, gets visit from Jim Harbaugh. November 29, 2017. November 29, 2015. MLive.com. Baumgardner, Nick.
  4. Web site: Kornacki: Hill Off to Great Start as Starting Cornerback. November 29, 2017. September 11, 2017. MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive.
  5. Web site: King Completes Perfect Run On Final Play. November 29, 2017. November 27, 2015. Michigan High School Athletic Association. Khan, Bill.
  6. Web site: Jourdan Lewis, Delano Hill could give Detroit Cass Tech 2 NFL draftees. November 29, 2017. April 26, 2017. Detroit Free Press. Snyder, Mark.
  7. Web site: 2016 U.S. Army All-American Bowl Roster. November 29, 2017. December 21, 2015. Scout.com. Huffman, Brandon.
  8. Web site: Jacob Eason wins U.S. Army Player of the Year on night of award winners. November 29, 2017. January 8, 2016. USA Today.
  9. Web site: King CB Lavert Hill sings fight song, then picks U-M. November 29, 2017. February 3, 2016. Detroit Free Press. McCabe, Mitch.
  10. Web site: Michigan plays a whopping 17 freshmen in opener vs. Hawaii. November 28, 2017. September 4, 2016. MLive.com. Baumgardner, Nick.
  11. Web site: Past nagging injuries, Hill stands out in second career start. November 29, 2017. September 11, 2017. Michigan Daily. Sang, Orion.
  12. Web site: Thirteen Wolverines Named All-Big Ten on Defense, Special Teams. November 28, 2017. November 28, 2017. BigTen.org. CBS Interactive.
  13. Web site: Big Ten Announces Football All-Conference Teams for Defense and Special Teams: The Big Ten Conference announced the 2017 All-Big Ten football honorees on defense and special teams on Tuesday. A total of 63 students were selected to either of the All-Big Ten teams selected by the coaches and media, while another 63 students were awarded honorable mention status. November 28, 2017. November 28, 2017. BigTen.org. CBS Interactive. https://web.archive.org/web/20171130220121/http://www.bigten.org/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/112817aac.html. November 30, 2017. dead.
  14. News: Peppers, Lewis Lead All 11 Defenders Honored by B1G. CBS Interactive. MGoBlue.com. November 29, 2017. November 29, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20170622192605/http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/112916aaa.html. June 22, 2017. dead.
  15. News: Postgame Notes: #15 Michigan 42, Maryland 21. CBS Interactive. MGoBlue.com. October 6, 2018. October 6, 2018.
  16. News: Fourteen Wolverines Earn All-Big Ten Honors on Defense, Special Teams. CBS Interactive. MGoBlue.com. November 27, 2018. November 27, 2017.
  17. News: Fourteen Wolverines Honored by Big Ten on Defense and Special Teams. CBS Interactive. MGoBlue.com. December 3, 2019. December 3, 2019.
  18. Web site: Chiefs Agree to Terms with Rookie Free Agents. Chiefs.com. April 26, 2020.
  19. Web site: Chiefs Roster Down to NFL-Mandated 53 . Chiefs.com.
  20. Web site: The Kansas City Chiefs Make Good Use Of New Practice Squad Rules . Forbes.com.
  21. News: Goldman, Charles . Chiefs release CB Lavert Hill from practice squad to make room for OL Stefen Wisniewski . USAToday.com . November 24, 2020 . December 29, 2020.
  22. Web site: Eagles sign CB Lavert Hill to the practice squad; announce protected players for Week 14. McPherson, Chris. PhiladelphiaEagles.com. December 8, 2020.
  23. Web site: Eagles agree to terms with DT T.Y. McGill; sign nine players to reserve/futures deals. McPherson, Chris. PhiladelphiaEagles.com. January 4, 2021.
  24. Web site: Arizona Cardinals sign Hagan and Hill to practice squad; release Ledbetter. ArizonaSports.com. October 26, 2021.
  25. Web site: 49ers Sign CB Lavert Hill and OL Wyatt Miller to the Practice Squad. 49ers.com. December 15, 2021.
  26. Web site: Browns sign CB Lavert Hill, waive CB Reggie Robinson II. ClevelandBrowns.com. August 5, 2022.
  27. News: Poisal . Anthony . Browns announce initial 53-man roster heading into 2022 season . ClevelandBrowns.com . August 30, 2022.
  28. Web site: Battlehawk add All-Big Ten Cornerback Lavert Hill. 2023-05-25. xflnewshub.com. en.
  29. Web site: Former Michigan football corner Lavert Hill earns All-XFL. 2023-05-25. wolverineswire.usatoday.com. en.
  30. Web site: Teresa. Varley. Steelers make camp roster moves. Steelers.com. August 14, 2023. August 15, 2023.
  31. Web site: Steelers make additional roster moves. Varley, Teresa. Steelers.com. August 28, 2023.
  32. News: UFL Player Transactions – Wednesday January 31, 2024 . UFLBoard.com . January 31, 2024 . February 1, 2024.