NFL Draft 2012: Exclusive Interview With Florida International WR T.Y. Hilton

[Editor’s Note: Here at NFL Spin Zone, we have put together a series of 2012 NFL Draft prospect interviews to give our viewers a more in-depth look at a handful of the players who could end up with their team next season. Today, we have a special treat and one of the most exciting playmakers in the draft, Florida International wide receiver T.Y. Hilton. 

Hilton set records at FIU as a freshman for receiving yards, all-purpose yards and receiving touchdowns in a season. He never slowed down in production as he led the team in receiving all four years. To see all of our previous interviews, CLICK HERE. Here is what T.Y. had to say.]

Josh Sanchez: You were injured heading into the combine, so how was experience despite not being able to fully participate?

T.Y. Hilton: The experience was great. You know, meeting with the teams, the NFL owners and just being up in Indy with the rest of those guys that you see and watch on TV. It meant a lot, so I just went out and enjoyed the experience with the rest of the college players.

Sanchez: What were the workouts like leading up to the combine? Were you focusing on rehab?

Hilton: I was dong rehab so I could come in and try to do something at the combine. I was also doing a lot of pool work to try to help me recover faster. I was in the pool going against the water — just using a lot of that stuff to help my quad and it helped me at my Pro Day.

Sanchez: How’s the quad coming along?

Hilton: My quad is great. I’m 100% and ready to get on with the show.

Sanchez: One of the main concerns people voice when evaluating is size. How would you respond to those who may say, “he’s too small?”

Hilton: My size isn’t an issue cause I’m a slot receiver. I’m not an outside receiver, I’m a slot guy. I can play outside as good as I play slot, but the size doesn’t matter. I have the heart of a lion. You’ll see me on film going across the middle and my body’s in great shape and I’m ready to go across the middle at any time, any point. My size doesn’t matter, it’s my heart. I got a big heart.

Sanchez: What teams have you been visiting?

Hilton: I visited with the Cowboys, the Colts, Jacksonville, Pittsburgh.

Sanchez: What’s it like going into those NFL team facilities for the first time?

Hilton: It’s amazing to go to those facilities, you know. To get to meet with the coaches you see on TV and just being there and being with them. They wanna talk to you, to get to know you, your background. It’s nice they get to know you and you get to know them. It’s a fun experience and actually they put a play on the board, talk us through it — they just want to see how smart you are.

Sanchez: What is one of the most difficult aspects of being a wide receiver that the fans may not notice when watching the games?

Hilton: The hardest part is you gotta be detailed in your routes. You gotta know what the opponent is in for even before they know what they’re in for. You gotta watch a lot of film. When you’re running routes, there’s a lot of options in the routes, so you gotta be able to do what the quarterback expects you to do and do it on point, on cue.

Sanchez: Do you feel you play with a chip on your shoulder because you played at one of the “smaller schools” in Florida and not one of the “powerhouse programs?”

Hilton: I always have something to prove. I always have a chip on my shoulder and it never leaves. You know, on and off the field, so that chip is always there and it makes me even more hungry. Coming from a small school, guys really don’t respect you as much as you think they do. That chip helps me carry on every day in practice. That’s my motivation to keep me strong and keep me going.

Sanchez: Who was the toughest defensive back that you went up against in your college career?

Hilton: In my career, it was two — Joe Haden and Javier Arenas.

Sanchez: Who was your biggest role model?

Hilton: My biggest role model was Deion Sanders.

Sanchez: So were you a fan of the Cowboys growing up?

Hilton: Oh yeah, I was a fan of the Cowboys. I watched Deion play for them.

Sanchez: Have you modeled your game after any NFL player in particular?

Hilton: Yeah, my speed is like DeSean Jackson and Victor Cruz, his route running, and he’s a special teams guy.

Sanchez: What will it mean to you to finally reach your NFL dream?

Hilton: It’s gonna mean a lot. You know, growing up a kid, watching these guys on TV, you have those dreams that you could be that guy playing on Sundays or Monday Night Football. It’ll be amazing. I’m just excited for the moment and ready for next week to come to see where I land.

Sanchez: Do you have any special plans for draft day?

Hilton: No, I’m just going to sit at home with my mom, dad, fiance and my sister and brother and watch the show. Cause, I don’t want too people around. I just wanna be calm and cool and watch the draft.

Sanchez: So if you were speaking to a NFL GM right now, make your pitch. Why should they draft T.Y. Hilton?

Hilton: My playmaking ability. My ability to change games. From special teams or a receivers stand point, I’ll take a three-yard play and turn it into a sixty or seventy yard touchdown. Also, I don’t have issues off the field, so you don’t gotta worry about me there. On the field, I’m a monster. I’m hard-working and I’m a leader. That’s just what I do. I make plays.

Sanchez: To close things out, what do you have to say to the fans of whatever team you are going to get drafted to?

Hilton: You’re gonna see a lot of playmaking ability and you’re gonna see amazing things on and off the field. Off the field, I’m a nice guy. You can come talk to me, just come up to me and I’ll sign autographs and talk to you like you’re a brother or sister. I’m fun to be around and just get ready for the excitement, cause I’m going to bring a lot of plays.

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