‘It means everything’: Cowboys make Central Florida DT Trysten Hill the 58th overall pick in NFL draft
UCF defensive lineman Trysten Hill runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 3, 2019.
FRISCO, Texas – A full breakdown of the Cowboys’ second-round draft pick (No. 58 overall) Friday night:
Name: Trysten Hill
Position: Defensive Tackle
College: UCF
Height/Weight: 6-3/308
FRISCO — The Cowboys used their first pick of the 2019 draft on UCF defensive tackle Trysten Hill, securing him in Friday night’s second round, the No. 58 pick overall.
The Cowboys had their choice of several defensive players they had been interested in, including the likes of safeties Taylor Rapp, Juan Thornhill and Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, when they finally went on the clock on Day 2 of the draft. They’d sat out Thursday’s first round after giving up the pick to Oakland last October for receiver Amari Cooper.
Dallas ultimately went for Hill, the 6-3, 308-pounder, who built a relationship during the pre-draft process with Rod Marinelli, Dallas’ veteran defensive coordinator and defensive line coach who prizes Hill’s under-tackle position. Hill provides needed depth to the interior of a line that should continue to be the strength of a defense that continued to surge last season.
Said Hill on a conference call with Dallas reporters: “The way that we talked to each other, I could just tell that he wants the best for me and I want to lay it all on the line for him. and the organization. …I can’t really put into words how important his and I’s relationship is with each other. …Him really taking hold of me this whole process and me being able to call him and chat with him and just hear his voice was huge in this ordeal.”
“It means everything to be picked by the Cowboys,” Hill said. “This is a dream come true, this is everything I’ve ever wanted, to play for coach Marinelli and to play for this organization. To have that star on my helmet means so much.”
The Rundown: An early-entry junior, Hill was dominant for much of his college career in the American Athletic Conference. He was a second-team all-conference pick in 2017, and although he only started one game last year amid a new coaching regime, he’s considered one of better interior defensive line prospects in this year’s class. He posted career highs in total tackles (36) and sacks (3) last season as part of the tackle rotation. He was among the Cowboys’ 30 allotted pre-draft visits earlier this month.
Trysten Hill became the first former Knights player taken in the 2019 NFL Draft.
The Dallas Cowboys chose Hill in the second round of the draft with the 58th overall pick.
A defensive lineman, Hill excelled in the American Athletic Conference championship victory over Memphis, but lashed out over his playing time in the Fiesta Bowl loss to LSU.
When declaring for the draft hours following the defeat, Hill thanked fans, his teammates and Frost.
Hill, who started 26 games as a freshman and sophomore, only had one start as a junior.
Still, the 6-foot-3, 308-pounder from Lee, Florida in North Florida, had a single-season career-high of 36 tackles as a junior. He also had three sacks.
Hill attended Suwannee High School in Live Oak, Florida. He originally committed to the Georgia Institute of Technology and then University of Virginia to play college football but changed to the University of Central Florida (UCF).
College career
Hill played at UCF from 2016 to 2018. During his career, he had 71 tackles and six sacks. After his junior season in 2018, he entered the 2019 NFL Draft. He was drafted as the 58th pick in the 2nd round by the Dallas Cowboys.
MORE ON THE DALLAS COWBOYS 2019 NO.1 PICK, TRYSTEN HILL
Trysten
Hill
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Bio
JUNIOR (2018)
• Played in 12 games, starting one
• Made 36 total tackles, his single-season career-high
• Had two carries for one yard and one touchdown
• Recorded his career-high three sacks for the season
• Named to the 2018 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List, the 2018 preseason Outland Trophy Watch List, and the Bednarik Award Watch List
• UConn (8/30): Made four tackles with two for a loss of three total yards
• SMU (10/6): Recorded his first collegiate points with a one-yard rush and made a tackle for a loss of four yards
• ECU (10/20): Registered one sack for a loss of five yards and made two total tackles
• Temple (11/1): Had two sacks for a loss of 14 yards and made three tackles
• Memphis (12/1): Had six total tackles, his single game career-high, and three for a loss of eight yards
SOPHOMORE (2017)
• Named Second Team All-Conference by The American
• Started all 13 games along the defensive line
• Totaled 20 tackles, including nine solo
• Also had 4.0 tackles-for-loss, two sacks and five QB hurries
• at Maryland (9/23): Registered three tackles, including one for loss
• at Navy (10/21): Recorded two tackles, including one for loss
• Austin Peay (10/28): Tallied three tackles
• UConn (11/1): Came away with one sack for a loss of four yards
• South Florida (11/24): Had five tackles and added two QB hurries
• Memphis (12/2): Added two QB hurries
• Auburn (1/1): Had one sack at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl
FRESHMAN (2016)
• Played in and started all 13 games at defensive end
• Totaled 15 tackles, five tackles-for-loss and one sack
• Added one quarterback hurry and one forced fumble
• South Carolina State (9/3): Had two tackles, including one for a loss
• Michigan (9/10): Recorded three tackles and one for a loss
• East Carolina (10/1): Totaled two tackles and had one tackle for loss
• Temple (10/15): Had first career sack and forced fumble
HIGH SCHOOL
• Coached by Jamie Rodgers at Suwannee High School
• A three-star recruit according to ESPN
• Named to the Associated Press Florida Class 5A All-State First Team in 2015
• Helped his team reach the 2015 FHSAA 5A regional finals, while it reached the state semifinals in 2014
• Tagged as a 2014 all-area honoree by The Gainesville Sun
