Former Dorman QB Collin Hill (6-5 214), who played for new USC offensive coordinator Mike Bobo at Colorado State, announced Saturday he will transfer to USC. Hill was a redshirt junior last season having suffered an ACL injury in his freshman season of 2016. He suffered his third torn ACL this season.
“I’m really excited to come back home and be at USC,” Hill said. “I felt like it was time to move on from CSU, and USC gave me a chance to do that. As far as an opportunity, I’m just going to come in and work to get healthy again. Grind through rehab and be ready to compete when the time comes.”
Bobo recruited Hill out of Dorman and he worked his way into the starting job, but his recurring knee injuries set him back. When Bobo was fired after the season and then hired soon after by Will Muschamp, Hill felt it was a good time for a fresh start for him as well.
“I entered the portal and Coach (Bobo) gave me a call and asked if I would be interested in coming back down to South Carolina,” Hill said. “I told him I would have to pray and talk with my family about it. I just felt like I was suppose to be in Columbia, so I told him I wanted to come.”
Hill said he will be enrolling in January on scholarship and as a graduate student, he will be eligible to play this season. He has one season of eligibility but can appeal for a second. He’s now looking forward to getting his knee 100% and giving the Gamecocks 100% in hopes of earning the starting job or contributing in some manner.
“I will be healthy enough to play for the season, and I have been told I have an opportunity to compete once I am healthy and ready to go,” he said. “I’m about 3 months out right now and am on track with everything. For spring ball, I won’t be doing everything. I’m not sure exactly how much I will do though.”
He played in 18 games for the Rams passing for 3323 yards, 23 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. As a high school senior at Dorman, Hill passed for 3505 yards and 35 touchdowns with 11 interceptions. He will join a quarterback room headed up by returner starter Ryan Hilinski and incoming freshman Luke Doty. And there is also Dakereon Joyner who served as the backup this season but is expected to move to wide receiver in the spring.
