Tyreek Hill once shared his NC State experience as the only school to offer him D1 scholarship
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill has made a name for himself as one of the most charismatic players in the NFL. Before reaching the pros, he had an eventful college career with three different schools.
During an interview on his YouTube channel in June 2023, the NFL star shared that the NC State Wolfpack were the only Division 1 team that gave him a scholarship offer and why he did not take it.
"I took a visit to NC State in my senior year," Hill said. "I don't know who y'all was playing against. TJ Graham, the receiver went crazy! He went crazy that day! You feel me? And the receivers coach was gassing him up. He was like, 'Yeah man, TJ is our guy.'"
"And you know me, I'm like 'Hey coach, I'm a receiver. I wanna be your guy too. NC State was the only school that offered me in high school, the only D1 school that offered me and the reason I didn't go there was TJ Graham, he went off in that game."
Tyreek Hill had an eventful college career
Coming from Coffee High School, Tyreek Hill did not have the grades to join elite Division 1 teams and he ultimately joined Garden City Community College. There, he tallied 659 rushing yards resulting in five touchdowns and 532 receiving yards on 32 receptions.
During an interview with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in January 2020, Hill talked about why he joined the community college.
“The reason I went to junior college was because I didn’t have grades,” Tyreek Hill said. “I was one of those kids. I never went to class. I would never be responsible. I wanted to hang out with the cool kids. I wanted to do what I wanted to do.”
Due to his stellar performances, he was recruited by the elites in the D1 including the USC Trojans, Alabama Crimson Tide, Texas Longhorns and Florida State Seminoles.
The Oklahoma State Cowboys ultimately won the battle for his commitment after their track coaches lured him with their new $10 million practice facilities.
He was cut from the team due to his arrest for domestic violence charges in 2014. Hill finished his Cowboys career with 1,811 all-purpose yards and while he struggled to find a program to take him, West Alabama coach Brett Gilliland took a chance on him.
Tyreek Hill became the first West Alabama player to get drafted when he was picked No. 165 overall in the 2016 NFL draft by the Kansas City Chiefs.