Ray Hill (American football)
Encyclopedia
Raymond Millous Hill is a former college and professional American football
player. He was a defensive back
at Michigan State
, and played four seasons in the NFL
, splitting three seasons between the Miami Dolphins
and the Buffalo Bills
. He was signed by the New England Patriots
as a free agent
in 2001, and was part of their Super Bowl XXXVI
championship season. He suffered a leg injury during the 2001 preseason, and was placed on injured reserve for the entire season. He has a younger brother, Renaldo Hill
, who is currently a free agent.
in Detroit, Michigan, where he was a three-year starter at defensive back.
; all three years of which he played under former head coach Nick Saban
. Hill finished his Spartan career by starting each of his final 35 games at right cornerback, and concluded his career with 115 solo tackles, six interceptions, and four forced fumbles.
A second-team All-Big Ten Conference
selection in 1997, Hill recorded 68 tackles (42 solos, 26 assists), intercepted four passes, and forced three fumbles. Hill set a Spartan single-season record with 16 pass break-ups.
as an undrafted rookie free agent
on April 24, 1998. Hill saw action in four games, all as a reserve, where he totaled three special teams tackles.
off waivers from the Buffalo Bills
on November 19, 1998. Hill played in two regular season games and the first two postseason games of his career with the Dolphins.
In 1999 Hill appeared in all 16 regular season games. Recording one tackle and a pass defense on defense. Hill finished sixth on the team with 14 tackles on special teams, where he also forced a fumble. Hill appeared in both playoff games following the 1999 season in a reserve role.
Hill re-signed with the Miami Dolphins
as an exclusive rights free agent on May 5, 2000. During the 2000 season, Hill recorded seven special teams tackles ( 5 solos, 2 assists), and one pass defense on defense, before being released by the Miami Dolphins
on October 25, 2000.
as a free agent
and saw action on special teams during the final five weeks of the season, recording four special teams tackles.
Granted free agency on March 1, 2001, Hill re-sgined with the Buffalo Bills
and was waived on June 1, 2001.
from the Buffalo Bills
. Hill suffered a leg injury on August 18, 2001, during a preseason game against the Carolina Panthers
. On August 28, 2001, Hill was placed on injured reserve.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player. He was a defensive back
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
at Michigan State
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
, and played four seasons in the NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
, splitting three seasons between the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He was signed by the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
as a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
in 2001, and was part of their Super Bowl XXXVI
Super Bowl XXXVI
Super Bowl XXXVI was an American football game played on February 3, 2002 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 2001 regular season. The American Football Conference champion New England Patriots won their first Super...
championship season. He suffered a leg injury during the 2001 preseason, and was placed on injured reserve for the entire season. He has a younger brother, Renaldo Hill
Renaldo Hill
Renaldo Hill is an American football safety who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the seventh round of the 2001 NFL Draft. He played college football at Michigan State....
, who is currently a free agent.
Early years
Hill attended Chadsey High SchoolChadsey High School
Chadsey Senior High School was a public secondary school in Detroit, Michigan.-History:Chadsey Senior High School was named in honor of Charles E. Chadsey - Superintendent of the Detroit Public Schools, 1912–1919; Chadsey High was constructed and organized in 1931...
in Detroit, Michigan, where he was a three-year starter at defensive back.
College career
Hill was a three-year letterman (1995–1997) for the Michigan State SpartansMichigan State Spartans
The Michigan State Spartans are the athletic team that represent Michigan State University. The school's athletic program includes 25 varsity sports teams. Their mascot is a Spartan warrior named Sparty, and the school colors are green and white...
; all three years of which he played under former head coach Nick Saban
Nick Saban
Nicholas Lou "Nick" Saban is the head coach of the University of Alabama's Crimson Tide football team. Saban has previously served as head coach of the National Football League's Miami Dolphins and three other NCAA universities: LSU, Michigan State and Toledo...
. Hill finished his Spartan career by starting each of his final 35 games at right cornerback, and concluded his career with 115 solo tackles, six interceptions, and four forced fumbles.
A second-team All-Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
selection in 1997, Hill recorded 68 tackles (42 solos, 26 assists), intercepted four passes, and forced three fumbles. Hill set a Spartan single-season record with 16 pass break-ups.
Buffalo Bills
He originally signed with the Buffalo BillsBuffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
as an undrafted rookie free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
on April 24, 1998. Hill saw action in four games, all as a reserve, where he totaled three special teams tackles.
Miami Dolphins
Was awarded to Miami DolphinsMiami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
off waivers from the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
on November 19, 1998. Hill played in two regular season games and the first two postseason games of his career with the Dolphins.
In 1999 Hill appeared in all 16 regular season games. Recording one tackle and a pass defense on defense. Hill finished sixth on the team with 14 tackles on special teams, where he also forced a fumble. Hill appeared in both playoff games following the 1999 season in a reserve role.
Hill re-signed with the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
as an exclusive rights free agent on May 5, 2000. During the 2000 season, Hill recorded seven special teams tackles ( 5 solos, 2 assists), and one pass defense on defense, before being released by the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
on October 25, 2000.
Buffalo Bills
On November 22, 2000, Hill return to the Buffalo BillsBuffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
as a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
and saw action on special teams during the final five weeks of the season, recording four special teams tackles.
Granted free agency on March 1, 2001, Hill re-sgined with the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and was waived on June 1, 2001.
New England Patriots
On June 11, 2001, Hill was claimed of waivers by the New England PatriotsNew England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
from the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. Hill suffered a leg injury on August 18, 2001, during a preseason game against the Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
. On August 28, 2001, Hill was placed on injured reserve.