Colleges

Hill won't be playing for USF in 2006

Grades, drug charge will determine whether he will be redshirted or play at a junior college this fall, coach says.

By GREG AUMAN
Published July 31, 2006

TAMPA - Four months ago, he was to be USF's starting quarterback for 2006. Now, Carlton Hill likely won't even be on campus this fall.

The long, downward spiral that has been his offseason took another turn for the worse Sunday as USF coach Jim Leavitt said he was "leaning toward" placing the sophomore at a junior college.

"He probably needs a year away," Leavitt said Sunday. "What would be great is to get him a year away and let him play somewhere. That would be the ultimate, to be honest with you."

Hill, who has faced academic problems and was arrested on campus last month on a charge of possession of marijuana, will either redshirt this season as a receiver at USF or play quarterback somewhere else.

"One of the two," Leavitt said.

Though Hill played sparingly as a freshman, Leavitt had named him his starting quarterback entering spring drills in March. Academic problems kept Hill out of much of those workouts, and after his arrest in June, he was moved to receiver. An inability to make good choices has at least temporarily derailed the future of perhaps USF's biggest recruit in 10 years of football.

"He has other things off the field he has to deal with," Leavitt said. "I think the world of the young man, but some of the decisions he's made haven't been the best."

Hill and his mother, Christine Ford, both declined to comment when reached separately by phone Sunday afternoon. He is taking summer classes at USF, and Leavitt said his performance there could decide whether he stays with the Bulls this fall.

"Maybe (we) place him in junior college, let him play, bring him back," Leavitt said. "It's a possibility, depending on his grade situation."

Even if Hill were to stay at USF, Leavitt said the 21-year-old taking a redshirt would be "an incredibly strong possibility."

With Hill out of the picture, senior Pat Julmiste, with 23 career starts, seems to have the quarterback job to lose. Asked generally about his quarterback situation at a news conference Sunday, Leavitt spoke at length about Julmiste without mentioning his top challenger, redshirt freshman Matt Grothe.

"We've had a lot of people try to beat Pat out, but it's nice having a quarterback back that has started for you, been the starting quarterback when you've won a number of games," Leavitt said. "Pat's done awfully well, I think. . . . I'd rather have somebody back like that than somebody not."

The Bulls, coming off a 6-6 season that ended with their first bowl appearance, start fall practice Aug. 7, with their season starting Sept. 2 against McNeese State.

[Last modified July 31, 2006, 06:04:01]