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Former Hogs' Player Peyton Hillis Expecting 'Full Recovery'

Sends social media thanks to everyone after saving family from drowning in Florida

Andy Hodges

Former Hogs' Player Peyton Hillis Expecting 'Full Recovery'
Former Hogs' Player Peyton Hillis Expecting 'Full Recovery' /
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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Peyton Hillis really just handled this like he has everything else in his life.

It appears the former Arkansas running back and NFL star is going to make a "full recovery" after he nearly died while saving his kids from drowning in the Gulf of Mexico off the Florida shores.

He put out his first public statement this week following the accident.

It's the way he's handled his entire career, often over-shadowed by Darren McFadden and Felix Jones during his time with the Razorbacks.

Nobody can count the number of times he made THE play, block or special teams decision that settled games. He was also a big-play guy catching passes out of the backfield that gave defenses fits trying to figure out which one of those three guys would end up with the ball.

Others can disagree, but I still say his injury in 2006 cost the Hogs a great shot at both their first SEC championship and a legitimate shot at playing for their first national championship.

They lost the last regular-season game of the year with a remarkable day of returning kickoffs by LSU's Trindon Holliday in War Memorial Stadium. They lost the SEC title game against Florida with some poor special teams decision-making.

Hillis made a lot of those on-field decisions for special teams.

In the NFL, he ended up playing for the Cleveland Browns, New York Giants and Denver Broncos and was on the cover of the Madden NFL game one year.

Now he's had what may be the challenge of his life.

And he answered like he has everything else – by winning.

Arkansas divider

HOGS FEED:

WHICH TWO-GAME VERSION OF THE RAZORBACKS WILL HOGS BRING TO ALABAMA?

OH, SO THIS IS WHAT THIS RAZORBACK TEAM IS SUPPOSED TO LOOK LIKE

NO, RAZORBACKS WOULDN'T ACTUALLY HAVE A SIX-FOOT, 196-POUND DEFENSE LINEMAN WOULD THEY?

HUNTER HOLLAN COULD FILL HUGE ROLE FOR RAZORBACKS THIS SEASON THAT PAYS OFF IN MAY

TAKING IT ONE GAME AT A TIME NOT SOMETHING FOR RAZORBACK FANS, BUT ERIC MUSSELMAN HOPING PLAYERS GET IT

MAYBE THE HOGS DEVELOPING SENSE OF URGENCY WITH WIN OVER FLORIDA

RAZORBACKS FINALLY COMPLETE A GAME TO GET A WIN

SMITH SETS IT UP, TYGART CLOSES IT DOWN AGAINST TEXAS FRIDAY NIGHT

FANS ASKED TO RED OUT "MUST-WIN" BASKETBALL GAME AGAINST FLORIDA

MARIO BROTHERS COMMERCIAL DURING SUPER BOWL LEADS TO HUGE RABBIT HOLE

IS NICK SMITH STILL A VALUABLE ASSET FOR RAZORBACKS AT THIS POINT?

SEC BASKETBALL STANDINGS

FAYETTEVILLE WEATHER OUTLOOK

Arkansas divider

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Andy Hodges
ANDY HODGES

Sports columnist, writer, former radio host and television host who has been expressing an opinion on sports in the media for over four decades. He has been at numerous media stops in Arkansas, Texas and Mississippi.