Interview: Arkansas Opposition Bracing for Ashdown 2018 QB Jaden Hill

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

The quality of arms coming out of The Natural State is on the rise and has been steady for years. Despite website rankings listing him as a three-star recruit, Class of 2017 quarterback Taylor Powell (Fayetteville) is as good a dual-threat as any other in the country. A top in-state signal-caller out of the 2018 class having already made a lot of waves is Greenwood’s Connor Noland. Opposing high school coaches have another rising talent to worry about in the 2018 class, Ashdown’s Jaden Hill.

If baseball does not get Hill first, Ashdown will have their fill of collegiate head coaches from around the country gracing their halls and stadium seats over the next two seasons. Hill is still a little raw but possesses all the tangibles of being a top quarterback. Coming in at 6’3”, 196 to 200 pounds, Hill has poise, pocket presence, quick feet in the pocket, is fast enough to allude pass rushers, has a fluid throwing motion, and has a cannon for an arm.

Stats do not paint the full picture for Hill’s abilities. When the 2015 season was over, the sophomore had thrown for 1,069 yards completing 84 of 174 attempts with eight touchdowns. He scrambled for another 60 yards finding the end zone seven more times on the ground. All of that raw talent already has colleges extending offers with Arkansas State, Louisiana Tech, Louisiana-Monroe, and Missouri ready to make him their quarterback of the future right now.

Hill took his lumps during his first year starting at the 4A varsity level but progressed and evolved his game. Heading into his junior season, the All-Conference and All-Area honoree has put in extra work to help fine-tune and craft his skill set readying himself for a breakout season in 2016.

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview, I caught up with Hill before Ashdown’s fall camp begins to get an overview on his offseason workouts, a preview of the Panthers’ 2016 team, and a recruiting update.

Interview

Jaden, did you play at the varsity level your freshman year?

“No sir.”

Playing against your peer group in 2014, did you tear everyone up?

(Laughs) “Yes sir. We threw the ball a lot. We had a running back down that year.”

The jump from freshman to varsity or junior varsity to varsity is always hardest with quarterbacks. How did you progress from the start of your sophomore season to the end in the pocket?

“Early in the season I was getting used to the speed at the varsity level. The guys are a lot faster. Now you are playing against older guys. I learned you have to be smarter. The guys are smarter at the next level too. I had to recognize the coverages.  I’ve put in a lot of work on recognizing coverages. Playing against junior high kids, they don’t know the game the way juniors and seniors do. I focused a lot on that.”

What are some of the things you do well on the field as a quarterback?

“Recognizing coverages. I’m able to get out of the pocket when I need to and I can see over the line because I am tall. I try to stay in the pocket as much as I can but will roll out to get away from lineman and linebackers. I have the speed to get into the secondary when needed. I have a good arm too.”

Yeah you do. The opening play on your reel ends any debate about that – a 40-yard touch pass over the defense for a score with a guy in your face off balance.

(Laughs)

Have you set any personal goals for yourself for the 2016 season?

“No, not for me. I have some random goals but nothing particular. I just want to help my team win.”

Will your role in the offense expand more this season? Will we see you pass more or run the ball more?

“Yes sir. We had a lot of senior athletes that took control of the team last year. This year I feel like I can be a leader that takes us to a state championship. Within the offense, we are going to run more of a spread. We have a lot of athletes on the outside and at running back. We have some amazing wide receivers. The coaches will put the ball in my hands to take care of business on offense.

“I may run more if needed but it will be more like what Cam Newton does for Carolina. I’ve worked on staying in the pocket to distribute the ball to our playmakers.”

You have four offers for football but you also have a couple of offers for baseball too, right?

“Arkansas State, Louisiana Tech, Louisiana-Monroe, and Missouri have offered me for football. My two baseball offers are from Arkansas and Missouri.”

Which schools are recruiting you right now but have not offered you yet?

“Alabama, Kentucky, Miami, and Texas A&M are for baseball.”

Have the Arkansas coaches been in touch with you for football?

“I have not been in touch with them for football. I have not talked to that many football coaches. I’m not sure who all is recruiting me in football. All of that goes through my head coach (Matt Richardson). I am just now coming into football after playing baseball all summer. North Carolina is one school. I’ve been talking to them heavy for football.”

With baseball going on were you able to attend any football camps this summer?

“No college camps. I attended a Clint Stoerner quarterback camp.”

Have you taken any unofficial visits this off-season?

“I’m planning on going to Alabama, Kentucky, and Missouri. I went to Arkansas (baseball).”

With baseball, which position are teams recruiting you to play?

“Pitcher.”

What type of pitcher are you?

“Right now I am a reliever or a closer. I’m a possible starter. I guess it just depends.”

What style of pitcher are you? I’m guessing a power pitcher being a closer.

“I’m a power pitcher. I try to throw hard when I am up there.”

How many pitches do you throw?

“I throw a fastball, curve ball, change-up, circle change and I’m working on a cutter and a slider.”

What are you topping out at on the gun?

“93 (miles per hour).”

If you can add a cutter or slider to a fastball with an effective change-up, you may not make it to the collegiate level if Major League Baseball scouts find out.

(Laughs)

How did the baseball season go for you?

“We did really well. We made it to state but lost 1-0 to Shiloh Christian.”

When you are not pitching, what position do you play in the field?

“Third base.”

How are you in the box?

“I had three homeruns this year. I hit those in regional play. I had two in one game and one in district.”

Which sport is your favorite, baseball or football?

“I have no favorites. I have a lot of love for all sports, I play basketball too. I just love to compete.”

Switching back to football. How does Ashdown look heading into fall camp and the 2016 season?

“We lost a lot but I think we will be good. We have a new O- and D-line. We have some new linebackers. Overall I think we have a lot of talent on the team. All our defensive backs have received offers. On offense, we have the same guys from the secondary playing wide receiver. If we can all come together there is no telling what we can do.”

You mentioned your wide receivers. Which guys are looking forward to getting the ball out to this year?

“Our running back Tre Green, he is a beast. Anthony Nelson (WR/CB), he’s about 6-1, 185, and he can go. Ladarius Bishop (WR/CB) and Montaric Brown (WR/FS) are both great. I’m really excited to play with all of those guys this year.”

Is there a game on the schedule that you are excited to play this year?

“All of them. I just love the Friday night lights.”

Jaden, thanks for your time today and good luck with fall camp.

“Thank you.”

Photo credit: scout.com; Jaden Hill visits Arkansas football program.

Photo credit: Hill family; No. 1 Jaden Hill pre-snap.