Kornacki: Hill Off to Great Start as Starting Cornerback

By Steve Kornacki

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Lavert Hill Sr. received a shout-out from University of Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh.

He's father to Delano Hill, one of the stars of Michigan's nation-leading total and passing defense last year now playing for the Seattle Seahawks, where new teammate Richard Sherman recently went on Twitter to jokingly claim that Eddie Murphy lookalike Delano is the son of the comedian.

His younger son, Lavert Hill Jr., is off to a great start as a starting cornerback in his sophomore season and had a 24-yard interception return for a touchdown in Saturday's (Sept. 9) win over Cincinnati.

So, on Monday (Sept. 11), when asked about Junior, Harbaugh smiled and said:

"I know he comes from good stock. You'd love to be Lavert Hill Sr., to have Delano Hill playing professional football, and now you see Lavert in there starting at corner, making plays, helping his team win.

"Lavert Hill Sr. is probably boring the heck out of his neighbors with how well his sons are doing. So, it's great."

The proud father was at the Cincinnati game, and it was like old times at Detroit Martin Luther King High watching his son take the pick-six route. Lavert had 12 interceptions as a senior and took three of them to the house.

"When I saw Dad after the game he just gave me a big hug," said Hill. "He told me, 'Keep working, and hopefully there are many more to come.' He was a football player, too, but now mostly he's just a fan of me. He's always motivating me to be the best player I can be."

Two of the first calls Lavert received after the game were from his cornerback mentor and long-time friend, Jourdan Lewis, now with the Dallas Cowboys, and Delano.

"I talked to [my brother] right after the game," said Lavert. "He called me and told me, 'Congratulations and just keep working. Get some more interceptions.' "

I asked him how his older brother, a third-round draft pick listed second on Seattle's depth chart at strong safety, has helped him the most.

"Delano had a big impact on me," said Lavert. "He's one of the reasons I came to Michigan, and seeing him play here was pretty big for me."

Lewis, who played at Detroit Cass Tech with Delano, has been there for him as well.

Prior to the season, Harbaugh referred to Hill as "a young Jourdan Lewis" who "excels in man coverage" and has a "very bright future."

That was special praise indeed because Lewis was a two-time All-American and holds the school record with 21 pass break-ups in 2015.

"Jourdan is somebody I look up to, for sure," said Hill. "Jourdan, I've known him for a long time, and I just try to do all the things he did except two times better. So, he motivates me a lot. He's taught me a lot of things, too."

Lewis got a chance to watch the Wolverines beat Florida in the season opener in Arlington, Texas.

"Every time I came to the sidelines," said Lavert, "he was talking to me and telling me what I need to get better at and what to look for, and just telling me everything about the game."

Lavert is putting all his lessons to good use. He has five tackles, including one and a half for lost yardage, and two pass breakups to go with that interception he turned into a touchdown.

Cincinnati quarterback Hayden Moore looked only to his right while in the pocket, and that provided Hill his first step in the opportunity.

"I was reading his eyes and just getting a feel for the routes they run," said Hill.

What's the key to turning the pick into a touchdown?

"As you catch it," said Hill, "you have to get a quick glance of the field and just see all the empty spaces you can go to, and get to the end zone as fast as you can."

Safety Tyree Kinnel had turned in a pick-six earlier in the Cincinnati game, making it the first time the Wolverines had returned a pair of interceptions for scores since cornerback Channing Stribling and Delano turned the trick last season against Hawaii.

Lavert Hill

With all the blitzing Michigan defensive coordinator Don Brown uses, cornerbacks are required to shut down receivers in one-on-one coverage.

"It's pretty hard just going back and forth all the time," said Hill. "It's just a battle with the receiver every play, and you've got to compete every play and just focus on your technique, make plays on the ball and be a playmaker."

That's what Wolverines secondary coach Michael Zordich stresses.

"Coach Zordich teaches us the technique and about just being a ballplayer and focusing on the game," said Hill. "He just wants us to go out and play as hard as we can on every down because that next down could be your last play. So, just give it your all and hope for the best."

Hill strives to be the best, and that's reflected in everything from his work ethic to the number on his back.

He wanted to wear No. 21, his high school number, at Michigan, but it's been retired for the 1991 Heisman Trophy winner.

"I couldn't get 21 because it's Desmond Howard's," said Hill. "So, I chose 24 for Darrelle Revis and Ty Law."

Law wore No. 22 as an All-America cornerback at Michigan in 1994 but wore No. 24 while winning three Super Bowls, making 53 career interceptions, and earning five Pro Bowl selections for the New England Patriots. Revis, a seven-time Pro Bowl cornerback, also wore No. 24.

Hill played on special teams and in the secondary as a true freshman in 2016, breaking up a pass against Hawaii and earning a start against Michigan State as a free safety with Delano at strong safety.

Where did Hill improve most while earning his cornerback position?

"On my technique and just getting a better feel for the game," he said. "Just learning the plays and different formations, getting that down pat."

It works out well that he can watch his brother play on Sundays.

Delano recently gained some social media celebrity from Pro Bowl cornerback Sherman's funny video posted to @RSherman_25 in which he got a smiling Delano to pose while stating: "This is Eddie Murphy's son."

Lavert chuckled when that was mentioned and said, "My dad saw that and I talked to my brother about that. We just started laughing. He said, 'Sherman's a pretty fun dude and a good guy.' That was funny."

Then there's his Wolverine "brother," Ambry Thomas, the highly recruited cornerback who won a state championship at Detroit King with Lavert.

"Ambry, that's like my brother," said Lavert. "We talk every day and just kick it all the time. It's pretty cool being here with him. It's like having someone from home who I can always talk with."

Michigan is like family for him, and he's thriving on the team.

"I've been happy with Lavert," said Harbaugh. "He's asserted himself and played very well, made the big play for us in the ballgame this past week. ... I've seen him digest information very well."

This week, Hill's preparing for an unusual challenge. The cornerback most valued in the passing game is having to focus on the line of scrimmage for Saturday's (Sept. 16) game with Air Force, which runs a triple-option offense.

"I don't think there'll be a lot of passing," said Hill. "So, it'll be a lot of run support. That's a big thing for us this week, and so we'll just have to put our big-boy pants on and go out and play."

His father will be in the stands at Michigan Stadium, and his brother will be watching on television. The family bond with football is something special, and if you're looking for prime defensive back talent, you can't go wrong by heading for the Hills.