Back to starting quarterback

By Sydney Ringdahl

He used to be an Aggie but TCU fans might forgive him if he finds his early 2014 form.

Kenny Hill is back.

Hill earned the starting spot in fall camp over Foster Sawyer. Saturday’s start will be the first time Hill is seeing game action since 2014. He began that season as the starter at Texas A&M.

Hill started as an Aggie eight times, throwing for a school debut-record 511 yards against South Carolina.

He threw for 2,649 yards and 23 touchdowns with a 66.7 percent completion rate in 2014, before losing the starting job mid-season. He ended it serving a two-game suspension for a violation of team rules.

Hill enrolled at Tarrant County College in January 2015 and enrolled at TCU six months later. He spent last season – his transfer year – as the Horned Frogs’ scout team quarterback.

His Horned Frog teammates say a good fit on the team. 

“Media paints a certain picture and I wanted to meet him first,” said senior defensive end Josh Carraway.  “Once I did meet him, I realized this was the guy they were talking about at A&M, but he’s a really good guy.”

Senior wide receiver Deanté Gray said Hill came in humble and exhibited a level of transparency that earned trust with the team.

“You can tell he came in trying to prove himself through his work ethic to gain our trust and confidence,” Gray said.

Gray said off the field Hill is a little quiet, but on the field, he’s a lot more vocal because the offense is a product of its quarterback.

“How he shows himself is how we respond,” Gray said.

At Carroll High School in Southlake, Hill was the 2012 Texas Gatorade Player of the Year and 5A Offensive Player of the Year. He threw for 20 touchdowns and ran for 22 more touchdowns as a senior. Hill threw for 25 and ran for 24 as a junior, when he led Carroll to a state championship. He had 15 touchdown throws and seven touchdown runs as a sophomore.

Head coach Gary Patterson said he is sure Hill wants to prove that he is still a good quarterback.

“I don’t judge quarterbacks til Saturdays,” Patterson said.

Hill will begin taking the snaps at 7 p.m. Saturday in the Amon G. Carter Stadium as the Horned Frogs open up the season against South Dakota State.