Central Catholic QB Perry Hills lands first offer
by Wade Perry
Posted April 28, 2011 12:22 am
FinestPreps.com has promised to deliver some of the top notch coverage of high school football prospects in America.
Today we’ve got some news fresh off the press about one of the top quarterbacks in the state of Pennsylvania for the 2012 recruiting class.
Pennsylvania is well-known for its storied tradition of drop back quarterbacks–having produced such legendary signal-callers as Dan Marino.
One of the top pro-style quarterbacks in the Keystone state for the class of 2012 is Perry Hills, the field general for Central Catholic (Pittsburgh, Pa.).
The 6’3, 200 pound quarterback was greeted with some good news when he was in class at school today.
He landed his first Division I-A scholarship offer for football.
Who’s the first team that’s decided to extend him a scholarship?
The Kent State Golden Flashes verbally offered the class of 2012 prospect today, becoming the first school to do so.
As a junior, Hills threw for 1,580 passing yards for Central Catholic last season.
Last year he was named first team all-conference last seaon in the WPIAL Quad A–Quad East conference.
An accomplished wrestler as well, Hills won the WPIAL class AAA title and finished fourth in the PIAA.
He lost to eventual state champion Kenny Courts of Central Dauphin in the quarterfinals 6-4.
One of the most gifted all-around athletes in the state of Pennsylvania–Hills has drawn interest from a variety of schools for football and wrestling.
Currently, Kent State is the only school to have offered him a scholarship in football but more offers are bound to come in the mail.
FinestPreps.com caught up with the gifted athlete to discuss his college football recruitment process, among other topics.
Below is the interview.
FinestPreps.com Interview with Central Catholic QB Perry Hills
FinestPreps.com: First off, Perry talk about how the college football recruitment process is going for you.
Perry Hills: “I mean my mom would call it nervewracking but it’s kind of a fun process–going around the country, looking at colleges, meeting new coaches, going to see where you’re going to leave for four to five years. So it’s a fun process and you only get to do it one time. I’m looking forward to it.”
FinestPreps.com: I heard you got a new offer from the Kent State Golden Flashes, Perry. Talk about how excited you are about the offer from Kent State.
Perry Hills: “I’ve always been looking for that first offer. I mean it’s like a weight lifted from my shoulders knowing that my dream is gonna be coming true–playing Division I-A football, running through that tunnel with the big stadium. I was so happy in school when I got told and I just look forward to playing for whatever team I can. Kent State–they have a nice campus, they have good academics, so that was a big choice for me.”
FinestPreps.com: What position has Kent State told you they want you to play at, Perry?
Perry Hills: “Quarterback–I’ve only played quarterback. I’m a pro-style quarterback, under center but we did do some shotgun here and there. I’m a fast quarterback (4.60 40 yard dash) even though my coaches don’t like running me very much because we don’t really have a backup. They kind of stay away from running me. I’m a pro-style quarterback and Kent State hopefully throws the ball a lot. So that’s what I’m really looking for.”
FinestPreps.com: Perry, Kent State’s got a pretty good tradition of quarterbacks. They’ve had guys like Josh Cribbs and Julian Edelman suit up for them. What would it mean for you to be the next in line at quarterback for them?
Perry Hills: “I’d have to fill big shoes but I’d work everyday. Throwing the ball, footwork, whatever I can do to become a great quarterback and hopefully one day play in the NFL.”
FinestPreps.com: Are there any other schools that have said they’re close to offering a scholarship, Perry?
Perry Hills: “I’ve talked to a lot of schools, Eastern Michigan, Toledo, University of Richmond, Akron. A lot of wrestling colleges have said I’m at one of those weight classes that I would get a full ride if I get an offer like Virginia, Maryland, N.C. State, schools like that–a lot of Ivy League schools.”
FinestPreps.com: So are you thinking about wrestling and playing football in college, Perry?
Perry Hills: “It would be a huge commitment but I would love to do it because it’s gonna be really hard to choose for me. I’ve been doing both since I was five but if it comes down to it and I had to choose I would play football.”
FinestPreps.com: Talk about how wrestling helps you with football, Perry. I know a lot of lineman that play football, wrestle a lot.
Perry Hills: “The biggest thing is it gets me mentally tough. 90 percent of the sport (wrestling) is mental and it just helps me so much more going into a stadium with a large crowd. You just block all that out because in wrestling you’re the only man on the mat. It’s all on your shoulders. So in football, I don’t get nervous and I just go out there calm as can be and do what I have to do.”
FinestPreps.com: Do you have any visits scheduled in the near future Perry to other campuses and schools?
Perry Hills: “I might be heading up to Princeton. I know I’m going to be going to a camp maybe in Richmond and Ayo (Fapahunda) might be setting up more college visits for the 7-on-7 team to (schools in) the SEC, he said.”
FinestPreps.com: What about favorites at this point? Do you have any schools that are your favorite at this point for you?
Perry Hills: “I haven’t really thought too much about favorites. But I’m just looking for–academically–do they have what I want to do, which is civil engineering. So that’s my biggest thing–if they have that. Then I’m gonna look at the campus because I’m gonna be living there for four to five years. But I really don’t have an favorites right now.”
FinestPreps.com: Talk about the things you feel you need to improve on as a quarterback headed into next season, Perry.
Perry Hills: “Well my coach and I have been working on footwork right now. Over the years we’ve been working on my arm–he said my arm is good right now but what we’re really doing is working on footwork, getting quick feet so that I can get out of the pocket, avoid being sacked, run down the field, and hopefully score for my team. Footwork is what I’ve been working on mostly right now.”
FinestPreps.com: What’s your favorite part about being a quarterback, Perry?
Perry Hills: “Just going in that huddle, everyone looking at you knowing that you have their back and you’re the general. That you’re gonna command them and lead them to victory. Just knowing that everybody has your back also.”
Keep it locked to FinestPreps.com for more on the recruitment of the talented signal-caller!
Wade Peery is a senior writer for FinestPreps.com. He can be reached by e-mail at wadepeery@yahoo.com. All comments and feedback are welcome.
Check out the junior highlights of Perry Hills below!