Arkansas RB Hill blames ‘bad representative’ for FSU exit

• David Hale, ESPN Staff WriterAug 9, 2024, 04:18 PM ET

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  • College football reporter.Joined ESPN in 2012. Graduate of the University of Delaware.Former Florida State running back Rodney Hill blames a”bad representative”

for his circuitous course through the transfer website to Arkansas.Hill, who served as the Seminoles ‘No. 3 tailback and dealt with kick returns last season, informed Arkansas media Friday that he was forced to leave Florida State after coaches there learned an agent had actually been contacting other teams to evaluate interest in Hill before he ‘d entered the transfer portal.Hill said his moms and dads had worked with the representative, who then texted coaches from other programs purporting to be Hill.”When it returned to the head coach, I needed to leave Florida State,”Hill told the Fort Smith Southwest Times Record.A Florida State source confirmed the basic information of Hill’s account but might not say whether there were additional mitigating scenarios surrounding his departure.Hill had 50 brings for 334 yards, 2 hurrying

touchdowns and five catches for 83 backyards in 2 seasons at Florida State after getting here in 2022 as a four-star hire(No. 235 in the ESPN300)out of Statesboro, Georgia.After leaving Florida

State in December, Hill committed to Florida A&M, then decommitted after Rattlers head coach Willie Simmons left to become the running backs coach at Duke. Hill then devoted to Miami, decommitted once again, and returned to Florida A&M, where he stated he took classes and worked out with the team before getting in the transfer website again. “Throughout that time when I had to leave, I wasn’t attempting to leave, I didn’t want to leave, so I just needed to, and the website was closing up,” Hill stated. “Florida A&M was next door [in Tallahassee, Florida], so I just had to go there for a month, discover a new location.

“Hill ultimately landed at Arkansas, where he figures to be part of a running back rotation in a role similar to his usage at Florida State.Hill stated he has a new representative now, Joe Hernandez of Just Win Management, however he thinks his story should be a cautionary tale for younger players considering working with

their own representation to take a more active function in the process and be more careful in their employing practices. “From my perspective, I understand it’s your parents and stuff like that, however sometimes you have actually got to handle it on your own, “Hill stated. “Sometimes, like with my parents, I know they were trying to do the best thing for me, but sometimes you’ve got to take that on your own and got to do it yourself. However to other kids, I ‘d just say you do not need to get an agent today. Simply wait.”