From England to Woodruff, Adrian Hill is Making a Name for Himself as a Member of Wolverines’ Vaunted Defense
By: Garrett Mitchell, Staff Writer | garrett@thewoodrufftimes.com
Adrian Hill crossed an ocean to play football at Woodruff High School, and his experience has brought a depth of passion and intensity to the Wolverines.
It is not quite another British invasion, but on Friday nights Hill has been able to frequently infiltrate opponents’ backfields as a key cog in Woodruff’s fearsome defensive line.
Adrian is originally from Upstate, South Carolina, but his family’s military duties necessitated the move across the Atlantic. In the United Kingdom, Hill found things much different than the life he was used to in the Palmetto State.
“(Living in the UK) was life-changing, honestly,” stated Hill. “Even down to the way people talk is different. I had to get used to it because I was expecting to hear people talk that sound just like me and sometimes you wondered if they were speaking English even though they were speaking English. I won’t say it was a huge culture shock, but it was a very big learning experience.”
He joked, “I had to get used to (driving) on the left side of the road instead of the right side. Those first few weeks, driving around was rough because we would forget that, oh, we’re not in America anymore and we have to drive on the left side. It was a very interesting experience and I can definitely say I enjoyed it when I was there.”
Hill and his family lived at RAF Lakenheath, a large Air Force base near the town of the same name in Suffolk, located in Southeastern England. Adrian looks like an athlete, muscular, with a stocky build. He says he was always quickly picked out by locals as someone who played sports, but not American football.
“When I am out in public in America people will see me and be like, oh, you play football,” he explained. “Over there (in England) I got told I look like I play rugby which is a very big. It was strange because I’m used to being told I look like I play football. A lot of people there don’t know what (American football) is. The ones who do know seem to enjoy it. It was a very new experience.”
American football is beginning to develop a stronghold in Europe, particularly in the British Isles, and Hill was able to join a team comprised of players his age. The experience gap, though, was immense, and Hill admits that for the first time he was cast into a leadership role helping his teammates learn an unfamiliar sport.
“When I was there, having played football for a long time, and me being in the states playing football, I was able to lead a lot because I played both sides of the ball,” said Adrian. “It was a
humbling experience because it was the first time I had a team on my back, but it taught me a lot of lessons that even help me here today.”
And he found out quickly, and poignantly, that British sports fans are equally passionate about their teams. Hill recalled being cautioned about wearing certain colors and jerseys because they represented those of his town’s rival soccer team. He compares it to one of the NFL’s most notorious fan bases.
“Their soccer rivalries, you would not believe,” he said with a laugh. “If you think of the Philadelphia Eagles, they are just as bad with soccer as Eagles’ fans. If you walk into somewhere wearing the wrong color jersey you will get hell for the entire time. But honestly, I loved it because I enjoy experiencing new sports cultures. That is one thing I really enjoy doing.”
After 10 months living abroad, Hill moved back to South Carolina and to Woodruff. A senior, Adrian quickly began making the most of what will be his only season for the Wolverines. Applying the leadership skills he learned leading his team in England, combined with his athleticism, Hill established himself as a dominant presence on defense during Woodruff’s season-opening win against rival Clinton.
He has fit in well with his teammates, too.
“Coming back (to South Carolina), I just had to mentally find some common things (with my teammates) because a lot of my teammates may not understand where I’m coming from,” said Hill. “They’re not going to understand some of the experiences I’ve had. So, how can I relate to them? I can relate to them through hard work. Like in the summer, when it’s hot and blazing, they see, ok, he’s struggling with me. They learn, yea, I can trust him. He may not be from here but he’s going to give us effort.”
That effort had paid great dividends. Through the season’s first seven games, Adrian has recorded 48 tackles, seven tackles for loss, two sacks, and eight quarterback hurries from his interior position on the defensive line for the 6-1 Wolverines.
But Adrian has a secret weapon that aids in his success; he is also an elite wrestler, a sport he picked up several years ago which he even admits supplants football as his favorite. Understanding leverage through a wrestling lens, he says, helps make him a better football player.
“My first sport was originally football, but I started wrestling and it’s my main sport now,” he explained. Wrestling helps tremendously and I apply (wrestling knowledge) in literally any situation on the football field. It helps so much making tackles and even getting to the tackle. It helps me be able to think, hey, I’m here and I’m not going to miss a tackle.”
When he reflects on his time spent overseas, Adrian is thankful for his unique experiences. He is also grateful to be able to make an impact on his new team. His is relishing his time on the defensive line, a group he says call themselves the ‘Power Rangers.’
“It’s nothing but a blessing,” says Adrian with his smile that can light up a room. “I couldn’t imagine being this useful to my teammates. I knew what I could do as an athlete but getting a chance to prove that, and knowing week in and week out that I’ve got my brothers beside me, I feel like I can play 100 percent. I know the offense is going to go score and my defensive guys, the Power Rangers, we will get after it. We are there for each other.”
Author: gmitchell85
