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Broncos sign seventh-rounder Hillis

Rocky Mountain News

Published July 16, 2008 at 1:11 p.m.

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Peyton Hillis, a seventh-round pick from Arkansas, signed with Broncos.

Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Peyton Hillis, a seventh-round pick from Arkansas, signed with Broncos.

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ENGLEWOOD — The Broncos on Wednesday signed fullback Peyton Hillis, their seventh-round pick (227th overall) in the 2008 NFL draft.

Terms of the deal with the University of Arkansas product were not disclosed.

The 6-foot-2, 250-pounder totaled 2,624 career all-purpose yards and 23 touchdowns as a three-year starter for the Razorbacks.

At Arkansas, he helped clear the way for two-time Heisman Trophy runner-up Darren McFadden. Hillis played 44 career games (29 starts) at Arkansas, posting school records for running backs in career receptions (118), receiving yards (1,195) and receiving touchdowns (11). He also totaled 203 career rushes for 959 yards (a 4.7-yard average) and 12 touchdowns and 257 career punt return yards and 213 career kickoff return yards.

In 2007, Hillis played 13 games (nine starts) and led Arkansas n receptions (49) and receiving yards (537). He blocked for two individual 1,000-yard rushers (McFadden and Felix Jones) for the second consecutive season and totaled 886 all-purpose yards.

With Hillis under contract, the Broncos have signed five of their nine selections from the 2008 draft.

Comments

  • July 16, 2008

    1:50 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    bosco35 writes:

    any bets on how long it will take this bronco to end up in jail?

  • July 16, 2008

    2:12 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    jvill writes:

    Hillis? Sure. I've got a bottle of scotch on "never".

    How are you taking these bets?

  • July 16, 2008

    2:17 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Dynamicdave writes:

    He is a big FB. I have a feeling that you can say goodbye to Sapp. I think it will be Hillis and Torain at FB. Time is short and we are nearing training camp and preseason. Let the games begin.

  • July 16, 2008

    2:40 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Dynamicdave writes:

    bosco35, Hillis, ending up in jail? Yeah, right, and Carlton Powell is an atheist. Get a grip, man.

  • July 16, 2008

    2:56 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    denmex writes:

    hillis is going to be a greate player in denver, he can block, he can run and he can catch any body said howard griffith????

  • July 16, 2008

    3:34 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    mitzimc9 writes:

    I AM USUALLY NOT A GAMBLER OR BLOGGER, BUT TO: bosco35 WHO SAID HE WOULD "TAKE ANY BETS"ON HOW LONG BEFORE NEWLY SIGNED DENVER BRONCO PEYTON HILLIS WOULD LAND IN JAIL! I BET "bosco35" EITHER HAS BEEN &/OR WILL BE IN JAIL BEFORE PEYTON HILLIS!

    MAN,YOU NEED TO GIVE THIS GENTLEMAN & FORMER ARKANSAS RAZORBACK RECORD BREAKER A BLEEPING CHANCE!I HAVE SEEN THIS GUY FOR FOUR (4) YEARS BEING A DEVOTED TEAM MATE! HE IS ONE THAT HOPEFULLY REAL SOON MAKE YOU EAT YOUR WORDS! SO CHILL! LET HIM SHOW YOU WHAT HE CAN & WILL DO FOR THE DENVER BRONCOS!

    PEACE!

  • July 16, 2008

    4:59 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Dynamicdave writes:

    mitzimc9, I agree. People like bosco35 have nothing positive to say. Just smart-alec remarks like that. Kind of reminds me of Lincicome. Nothing positive to say about the Broncos. I'll bet, and this is for you, bosco35, that you have not read a thing about Hillis, where he grew up, etc.? Yet you make a stupid statement like that about someone else. I can't stand negative gossip. Worse thing is, yours isn't gossip, it's just unfounded negatism.

  • July 16, 2008

    5:51 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    MarcoPolo writes:

    They could've just kept Kyle Johnson. Nah, too simple.

  • July 16, 2008

    6:15 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Pigskin writes:

    MarcoPolo, based on his play in college, Hillis is a big upgrade over Johnson.
    He's never been, nor will he ever be, the blocker Griffith was. But he may be just as effective in the passing game.
    Four more picks to sign. I hope they're all in camp on time; this rookie crop could have some real impact.

  • July 16, 2008

    6:51 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Dynamicdave writes:

    Pigskin, I agree 100%. We have some hungry, young talent. The last 4 are the top picks. We are just hashing out some details, I'm sure, since they will be making more money then the other picks. They will sign, but it usually happens right before or during the training camp. I doubt any of them will hold out like that jerk from the Oakland Traitors (JaFartus Brussells) did.

  • July 16, 2008

    10:32 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    aragornzxl writes:

    anyone can tell me why he was a 7th rounder? with all the talents that everyone says he has? (I am not trying to be smart, im just trying to figure why teams didnt pick him earlier if he was as good as he seems)

  • July 16, 2008

    11:20 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Dynamicdave writes:

    Keep in mind, aragornzxl, that we got Davis in the 6th round and he was a gem. Teams pick players to fit their particular needs. To even make it to the draft, is impressive. I also look at Rod Smith. He was a walk on to the Broncos. Never judge or read too much into the draft round he was picked in. Judge him by his production on the field. Preseason will seperate the wanna-be's from the real deals. I think Hillis is a real deal.

  • July 17, 2008

    6:56 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    cmaddog1 writes:

    aragornzxl, the reason why he was a 7th rounder was because of little nagging injuries his senior year. If he was healthy he would of been a low first or early second round pick this past April. This guy will be good. I mean look at Arkansas rb's and what they accomplished with Hillis leading the way.

  • July 17, 2008

    7:29 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    DingleDingle writes:

    Why was Hillis a 7th Rounder????

    His former coach, Houston Dale Nutt, threw him under the bus. Nutt told NFL scouts that Hillis was a cancer in the locker room and that killed his draft value. The reason Nutt said that is because Nutt is a petty, childish person who was exacting revenge against a good kid who ALWAYS worked hard, ALWAYS gave 100% on the field and occasionally expressed frustration when losing. I don't mean that Hillis was out there bad-mouthing the team or coaches because he absolutely wasn't, but sometimes when reporters asked him questions, he was pretty blunt (and accurate) about things that may have happened in a game. I don't think he ever meant to offend anyone, and I can't remember a time when he ever called anyone out specifically because he wasn't like that.

    Fact: He was a steal in the 7th round.
    Fact: He is not a trouble maker in spite of what Nutt says.
    Fact: He may say something to the media at some point that a thin skinned, weak person like Nutt would take as a personal attack when in reality it is merely an observation of objective fact.
    Fact: He'll give 100% all the time and do whatever the coaches ask him to do to help the team win.

  • July 17, 2008

    9:08 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    MarcoPolo writes:

    Also, not too many teams use a traditional FB anymore and I don't think the Broncos are much of an exception. Hillis is good player no doubt, but I wonder about the pick simply because (as with Kyle Johnson) the question remains, are they even gonna use him?

  • July 17, 2008

    9:18 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    arkielew writes:

    Hillis will do the Bronco's proud. He is a fine young man. His family owns a home on the lake near here and when they are spending the weekend there Payton and his dad quite frequently attend services at our little Baptist church here where the kids and their parents all love him.
    The bit about Houston Nutt is no secret in Arkansas, Hillis never sought out reporters but when he was asked a question he would answer it as truthfully as he could.
    We here in Arkansas look forward to following Payton's career in Denver and wish both Payton and the Bronco's well in the upcoming season.

  • July 17, 2008

    10:23 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    denmex writes:

    kyle johnson was all hart but his game was not greate, hillis is a pice of worck this kid is spectacular, he was a 7 rounder because he is fb, do you guys know how many fb were taken before him?????
    marcopolo is write not many teams use regular fb any more but with our small hb we better put some one infront of him, and remember how shany use fb tha can catch the ball, ib seen hillis play for a long time trust me guys he could be the best player in this broncos class.
    ps. hillis dident pay me to write this

  • July 17, 2008

    10:56 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Dynamicdave writes:

    denmex, I hope Hillis didn't help you write your blog, ha, ha. Oh, and arkielew, it's Peyton, not Payton. Ok, enough of spelling, 101. To the subject. I knew nothing of his coach giving him the black list. I'll have to read up on it. MarcoPolo, of course they'll use him, but mostly as a blocker. From everything I've read, he is an outstanding blocker. So was Howard Griffith and we all saw how valuable he was. It also tells me that Hillis isn't a "me, me, me", type of person. We need unselfish players on our team. Group effort is always important.

  • July 17, 2008

    11:51 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Bradonkadoncs writes:

    Denmex - If my memory serves me (no guarantees there), Hillis was the second true fullback selected in the draft after Owen Schmitt. Thanks Jake! (as in The Snake - this was the draft pick we got from Tampa for J.P.)

  • July 17, 2008

    1:59 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Dynamicdave writes:

    Donkos, Hillis was the 4th FB chosen in the draft. But, as I stated before, being picked last, doesn't mean anything. He is best known as a blocking back. He also has great hands. Terrell Davis was taken in the 6th round. The point is, he's got talent or he wouldn't have made the draft. Also, he fits Denvers need of a blocking FB. Plus, he's big enough so he can punch it in at the goal line.

  • July 17, 2008

    4:08 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    bigbadthor writes:

    Hillis is going to be a monster in Denver system, hands, blocks, and runs great, the guy ran for 2000 plus yards with McFadden and Jones taking the majority of the carries. I can't wait, I think this was the biggest steal in the draft, he was rated as a 3rd rounder on most every board and either the 1st or 2nd best FB in the class. I think Shannan will get this guy the ball alot, look for alot of screens and 20 yard romps. Not a razorback fan, but this guy is a stud.

  • July 17, 2008

    9:42 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Broncoflow writes:

    Can you say Howard Griffith? We might just have the best fullback in the draft. Just wait Bronco-Nation.....

  • July 18, 2008

    9:31 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    southpaw writes:

    FB is a key position in the Broncos offense, and Hillis is the real deal.

    BTW, Tom Brady was a 6th rounder.

  • July 27, 2008

    8:50 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    jabberwocky writes:

    hillis will be a non impact player if he even stays with the team