Hillis Prepared for Biggest Play of His Life at Young Age

Former star Razorback fullback hospitalized after saving children in Gulf of Mexico

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Back in the early 2000s I was supplementing a paltry journalism income by working at a Smoothie King in Conway that had just opened across the street from Conway High School.

We developed loyal customers fairly quickly and the owner's daughter developed a knack at making sure she knew each by name.

One particular mass of a man kept coming in ordering "Hulks" every afternoon, and I was sure he must be a football player playing for Clint Conque over at UCA that I didn't know. One afternoon the man came in while the owner's daughter was there so I asked if she knew who he was.

To my surprise, she said this walking mountain of muscle wasn't a man. He was a high school kid at Conway named Peyton something, and to make things more shocking, she was pretty sure he was a sophomore on the football team.

Peyton "something" was actually Peyton Hillis before he became THE Peyton Hillis, Arkansas Razorback star and future Madden cover art during his NFL playing days.

Little did I know that the young man who was chugging Hulks to bulk up all those years ago was actually preparing for the day where his star would shine brightest.

Hillis was reportedly taking family time to swim in the Gulf of Mexico in the Pensacola area in Florida when his children started struggling in the water. The former Razorback fullback dove into the water, determined to do whatever it took to save his children's lives.

That included giving his own if needed.

While he was successful, his children are safe thanks to his heroic actions, the effort took an extreme toll on his body. 

Hillis had to reportedly be taken to an area hospital by helicopter where he was fighting for his life. Fortunately, according to a social media post by his uncle, Greg Hillis, Peyton appears to be on the path to recovery.

At last report, Hillis is considered in critical condition. 

HOGS FEED:

EQUIPMENT DEBACLE AT A&M LEADS TO DISCOVER OF HOGS' SOCIAL MEDIA GEM

DON'T LET THESE FACTS GET IN THE WAY OF IRRATIONAL HATE OF HOW BRILES RUNS HOGS' OFFENSE

TEXAS, OKLAHOMA COMING SOON, BUT THEN WHO'S NEXT FOR THE SEC?

PEYTON HILLIS SHOWED POTENTIAL FOR BIGGEST PLAY IN HIS LIFE AT YOUNG AGE

BRILES, JEFFERSON REVEAL WHETHER THEY WILL REMAIN WITH RAZORBACK PROGRAM

TEXAS EXPECTED TO TARGET PROMINENT SEC COACHES, BUT MUSSELMAN NOT BEST FIT AMONG THE GROUP

ARKANSAS CAN'T LOSE WHAT IT NEVER REALLY HAD WITH NICK SMITH'S EXTENDED ABSENCE

ARKANSAS DECIDES TO HIRE SECOND DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR TO ASSIST

HOGS THOUGHT THEY HAD AVOIDED POTENTIAL NIGHTMARE, BUT PETRINO ENDS UP AT A&M ANYWAY

RAZORBACKS' ATHLETIC DIRECTOR HUNTER YURACHEK ON PROCEDURES AFTER DAMAR HAMLIN INJURY

BILLS' DAMAR HAMLIN LEAVING FIELD ALIVE DUE IN PART TO A COUPLE OF OTHER TRAGEDIES IN SPORTS WITH ARKANSAS TIES

RED FLAGS WITH JORDAN DOMINECK DEPARTURE DESPITE RECENT PLEDGE TO STAY

OHIO ST. LEARNED WHAT ARKANSAS ALREADY KNOWS, TEXAS/OU NEED TO LEARN ALSO

RAZORBACK FANS STUN ALLHOGS STAFF WITH MOST CLICKED STORY OF THE YEAR

IF TCU CAN MAKE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, NO REASON ARKANSAS CAN'T EITHER

SAM PITTMAN GETS HISTORIC CHANCE TO REBUILD RAZORBACKS' PROGRAM

SAM PITTMAN NEEDS TO DEVELOP KILLER INSTINCT BEFORE NEXT SEASON

• Return to allHogs home page.

• Want to join in on the discussion? Click here to become a member of the allHOGS message board community today!

• Follow allHOGS on Twitter and Facebook.