Former Oregon Duck Jamal Hill ‘Very Sharp’ At Houston Texans Rookie Minicamp

Former Oregon Duck linebacker Jamal Hill is impressing coach DeMeco Ryans at Houston Texans Rookie Minicamp.

Mark Lantz | May 11, 2024

Oregon inside linebacker Jamal Hill makes a catch during Oregon Pro Day Tuesday, March 12, 2024 at / Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA

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The Houston Texans selected former Oregon Duck linebacker, Jamal Hill, with the 188th overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, filling a need after losing two of their defensive stalwarts to free agency. The early question is what can Hill bring to the defending AFC South champion Texans?

Hill was a two-year starter at safety for the Ducks before switching to linebacker for the 2023 campaign. He had a solid senior season with 31 tackles, five for loss and two sacks. While he was not invited to the NFL Scouting Combine, he impressed scouts with his performance at Oregon’s Pro Day.

Oregon inside linebacker Jamal Hill makes a catch during Oregon Pro Day Tuesday, March 12, 2024 at / Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA

Specifically, his 4.41 time in the 40-yard dash would have led all linebackers at the combine. The NFL.com’s scouting report on Hill’s speed noted that “his burst allows him to make up for missteps, and he can run down backs before they turn the corner.”

The next opportunity for Hill to impress is the Texans Rookie Minicamp.

“It’s the first day,” coach DeMeco Ryans said with a chuckle. “It’s more about teaching. Jamal, he’s been very attentive in the meetings. He’s a very sharp young man. So, we are excited to work with Jamal.”

Also note that coach Ryans is a former NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and a Pro Bowl linebacker. While Hill exhibits the athleticism needed to play in the NFL, he can certainly learn a great deal about linebacker play from coach Ryans.

In addition, Hill joins a team that surprised many with a division title and playoff win over the Cleveland Browns. All-in-all, this is a chance for Hill to demonstrate his flexibility and willingness to do whatever he can to help Houston to win games.

Published May 11, 2024

MARK LANTZ

Mark Lantz brings a wealth of experience in sports broadcasting as well as detailed writing when covering all that is Oregon Ducks sports. Mark spent several years covering high school football, basketball and American Legion baseball. He was a play-by-play announcer and color commentator. He also started a network to broadcast high school basketball to small radio stations in Montana. Prior to his retirement in 2022, Mark spent over 10 years writing for a well-known wealth management firm. He wrote about stock market trends, investor behavior, economic and political developments, and retirement related matters, to name a few. His writing style is designed to give the reader insight into Oregon Ducks sports.