Florida Gators

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Jaydon Hill returned from his lengthy stay in the shadows on Sunday. A redshirt sophomore cornerback, Hill qualifies as a grizzled veteran on this year's team in his fourth season in the program.

He has spent much of that time dealing with three knee injuries: one from high school, one from preseason camp a year ago, and a less-serious setback before this season. Hill made his season debut against Eastern Washington, marking his 23rd appearance in 43 games (53.4 percent) since he arrived as a mid-year enrollee in January 2019.

That's not what Hill had in mind after signing with Florida out of Bob Jones High in Huntsville, Ala. He envisioned a starring role at DBU and following in the footsteps of a long list of Gators defensive backs to shine at Florida Field on their way to the NFL.

Hill's perspective has changed drastically.

"It's been a long journey,'' he said Wednesday night after practice. "A lot of hard work, long late nights, a lot of tears. I can't complain. I'm just blessed. I'm still out here."

Hill's long-awaited return after playing all 12 games in 2020 began with a non-contact torn ACL in his left knee in August 2021. Hill tore the ACL in his right knee as a senior in high school. Speaking to the media just days before the injury at practice, Hill was optimistic that he was ready for a breakout role, pegged as one of the team's starting cornerbacks.

A sampling of what Hill said then: "When I got here, honestly, I couldn't even draw up a play besides Cover 3. But my game has progressed tremendously, my mindset off the field, in meeting rooms."

Five days later, then-Gators coach Dan Mullen delivered the news that Hill's season was wrecked before the first snap.

"Massive disappointment,'' Mullen said.

Wesley McGriff, one of UF's defensive back coaches in his first season as co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach at Louisville, echoed Mullen's mood.

"I can tell you, as a unit, we lost a valuable guy there," McGriff said at the time. Hill's injury thrust redshirt freshman Avery Helm into the starting lineup opposite veteran Kaiir Elam and sped up the development of true freshman cornerback Jason Marshall Jr.

Florida's defense, which allowed a school-record 28 touchdown passes in the offense-favored COVID-19 season two years ago, trimmed that number to 19 a season ago. In the first five games this season, the Gators have allowed five touchdown passes and recorded four interceptions. The Gators hope Hill's return tightens up a secondary that has been victimized for 18 pass plays of 20 or more yards.

"Jaydon was one of the better players that we had on our team in spring practice, in my opinion," Florida coach Billy Napier said. "I was very impressed with him as a player. It's no surprise to me, you know, he showed pretty quickly here that he's very capable. I'm excited how he can impact our team."

In his first action since the 2020 Cotton Bowl loss to Oklahoma, Hill's most significant contribution was a tackle on fourth-and-1 to stop an Eastern Washington drive in the first quarter. Hill stopped Eagles running back Justice Jackson for a 1-yard loss, turning the ball over on downs. Florida scored on its ensuing drive.

Hill said he felt rusty on EWU's opening drive, a 13-play, 49-yard march that ended with a field goal. On the game's fifth play, EWU quarterback Gunner Talkington hit Jakobie James for a 14-yard gain and first down with Hill in coverage.

"I remember taking the field. It felt unreal. I was just happy to be back out there,'' Hill said. "That was my welcome back. I was like, 'I gotta get right.' That was my point right there."

While Hill adjusts to game speed, he returns during the heart of the Gators' Southeastern Conference schedule. Starting with Saturday's game against Missouri, Florida faces six consecutive conference opponents.

Hill has been through the SEC grind, but this time in a more prominent role. He is confident he is prepared to contribute on the field and set a tone in the locker room with the lessons learned on the long road back.

"It's been a hard one,'' he said. "I'm capable of getting through adversity. It made me just view a lot of things differently and just finding positivity within. That's something big."

Napier's welcome-back message to Hill in his first season has been more uplifting than the third-down pass EWU tossed his way.

"Jaydon is a guy I've got a ton of respect for," Napier said. "He's a guy that obviously has been through some tough up-and-down moments from an injury perspective. It's great to see him out there participating and interacting with his teammates and having that smile on his face. This guy loves to play. More importantly, he loves to be a part of a team."

Hill took it easy Sunday night after making his return to the field. He said he hung out with his family, who came down to the game from Alabama and tried to appreciate the moment.

He was tired, too. After all, he hadn't played a game in a long time.

"Honestly, it was just a blessing to be back out there,'' Hill said. "I wouldn't say I played like the best that I'm capable of, but you know, it's just something to build on. And honestly, I know the best is yet to come."