Newton’s Tre Hillie didn’t have the best senior year.
But an explosive junior season told college coaches all they needed to know.
Hillie signed a national letter of intent to play college football at Coahoma Community College on Wednesday.
Hillie finished his senior year with 639 yards rushing and 428 passing, despite numerous injuries and really young group of skill players around him. His junior year, Hillie helped guide the Tigers to back-to-back playoff games and threw for 1,988 yards and led the team with 618 yards rushing. He was a back-to-back Newton County Appeal Elite 11 selection and was a Meridian Star Premier Preps selection his junior year.
First-year coach Zack Grady had nothing but praise for his Hillie, who signed as an athlete with Tigers.
“He is a multi-dimensional player and a hard worker,” Grady said. “He is very knowledgeable about the game and loves to compete. When you go to that level, all the kids can play so it comes down to being of the game and I think he excels at that.”
Grady said Hillie could end up playing several positions for the Tigers.
“He will be doin g a lot of the same things he was doing here,” Grady said. “He could line up at receiver, maybe quarterback or a defensive back. They signed him as an athlete until they find a position where he sticks. He is very versatile and willing to learn and I think he will be fine. He has a great competitive drive. You have to be willing to compete at the next level and I think he has that.”
Hillie said he liked what he saw at Coahoma.
“That was my first offer,” Hillie said. “Alcorn and Jackson State were looking at me but Coahoma came first. I went up there and visited the campus and really liked the campus and the coaches. They said I could be playing receiver, quarterback, returning kicks or even running back.”
