Boston College Athletics
Photo by: John Quackenbos
The Making of a Running Back
September 28, 2016 | Football, #ForBoston Files
When it comes to college football, New Jersey is home to only one college FBS team - Rutgers - and yet many recruits have come out of the Garden State. Because there is a lack of college game days, high school football is taken very seriously. City borders mark the territory of life-long rivalries.
Jon Hilliman is an alumnus of one of the most notable programs in the state, St. Peter's Prep, and understands the sentiment.
"North Jersey is the big recruiting hub (of the state)," Hilliman said. "New Jersey as a whole has a lot of great players, as well. Football is pretty big in New Jersey; it's always been big. It's great competition."
The electric high school culture is one piece of his story, but Hilliman's football experience was also influenced by NFL greats like Jim Brown and Walter Payton. The young running back studied these players and has tried to model his game after theirs. Super Bowl heroes were his inspiration, but the real coaches were very close to home.Â
"I was introduced to football by my dad and uncles," he said. "They played, my uncle played running back at Plainfield and they trained me growing up. I was a big guy growing up. I always wanted to play running back. They always felt like I had the instincts for it."
Last year, Hilliman's season was interrupted by a season-ending injury to the leg. His confident mentality and music helped him through his recovery period.
This new season is in full swing and Hilliman is hoping for the team to tap into their full potential.
"It's a lot of talent on the team. Right now it's kind of slow but I think we're going to get going as guys get more confident -- I think it's going to be pretty great for the fans to watch and great for us especially."
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Jon Hilliman is an alumnus of one of the most notable programs in the state, St. Peter's Prep, and understands the sentiment.
"North Jersey is the big recruiting hub (of the state)," Hilliman said. "New Jersey as a whole has a lot of great players, as well. Football is pretty big in New Jersey; it's always been big. It's great competition."
The electric high school culture is one piece of his story, but Hilliman's football experience was also influenced by NFL greats like Jim Brown and Walter Payton. The young running back studied these players and has tried to model his game after theirs. Super Bowl heroes were his inspiration, but the real coaches were very close to home.Â
"I was introduced to football by my dad and uncles," he said. "They played, my uncle played running back at Plainfield and they trained me growing up. I was a big guy growing up. I always wanted to play running back. They always felt like I had the instincts for it."
Last year, Hilliman's season was interrupted by a season-ending injury to the leg. His confident mentality and music helped him through his recovery period.
This new season is in full swing and Hilliman is hoping for the team to tap into their full potential.
"It's a lot of talent on the team. Right now it's kind of slow but I think we're going to get going as guys get more confident -- I think it's going to be pretty great for the fans to watch and great for us especially."
Â
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