Justin Hilliard’s Perseverance to Become Ohio State Captain Leads to “Unbelievable” Father-Son Moment

08/09/2020 Business


Carl Hilliard stunned himself for bad news when he received an unexpected call from his son Justin on Tuesday.

In the past, getting a phone call from Justin and having one of his Ohio State coaches at the other end of the line too often meant bad news came. Carl Hilliard has received those calls three times to inform him that Justin had suffered an injury, and in the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, that could not only help but also cross his mind.

“When you get a call from your son, the first thing you think of is, ‘Oh my god, what happened to him?'” Carl Hilliard reminded her. ‘And the first thing you thought about was an injury other than a back injury. And I also thought maybe he had the coronavirus. ”

However, the news that Carl Hilliard was about to receive from his son and Ohio State assistant coaches Greg Mattison and Al Washington was not bad news at all. In fact, the news could not have been better.

As soon as word came out of Mattison’s mouth that Justin Hilliard had been named one of the seven captains of the Ohio State football team in 2020, Carl began to cry tears of joy.

“I was actually in a Zoom call with about 60 of my staff members,” Carl said Alve Warriors, “And I actually started crying for my staff. I had to leave. They did not know what the hell was. But when I got that conversation, it was just unbelievable. ”

Today, Justin’s ups and downs since he arrived in Ohio State are well documented. A five-star recruit from the St. Xavier High School of Cincinnati, Hilliard tore each of his biceps over his first two years at Ohio State. After establishing himself as a major player on special teams in 2017 and 2018, Hilliard broke his Achilles in the spring of 2019. However, he jumped back to have his most impactful season yet last fall, becoming a regular in ‘ the Buckeyes’ four-linebacker package and even two games begin by recording 13 tackles with three tackles for loss and a memorable interpretation that helped the Buckeyes seal a win over Penn State.

Now, as a rare six-year senior and the only remaining member of Ohio State’s 2015 recruiting class, Hilliard has established himself as one of the Buckeyes’ top team leaders.

“Everyone on the team has an unbelievable amount of respect for Justin,” Washington told Carl Hilliard during the call, informing that his son was named a captain, “for how he handles his business and everything he has been passed on.”

Had Hilliard’s career been the way everyone saw it when he signed with Ohio State as Ohio State’s top class prospect of 2015, he would have already played in the NFL. But Hilliard did not let the setbacks he had to overcome overcome his mind.

Keeping a positive mindset, Hilliard has tried to make the most out of every year he had in Ohio State both on and off the field. While enjoying the chance to have an unusually long college football career, Hilliard is also joining in earning a master’s degree after earning his bachelor’s degree from Fisher College of Business in the spring of 2019.

“I think a lot of people who thought I was just sorry for myself for all the terrible things that happened to me, but honestly, the last five or how long I’ve been here, it’s great been for me, ”Hilliard said Tuesday after being named captain. “I’ve had the time of my life.”

This attitude has been inspiring not only to Hilliard’s teammates in the Ohio State football program, but also to his family.

“He often said, ‘I will not lie here and cry or be depressed,'” Carl Hilliard said. ‘He puts himself in a positive atmosphere. He gives himself positive reinforcements. He wants people to be positive around him. He does not want self-pity. So what I have learned most from him is to take a bad situation and grow out of it and make it better. ‘

“I’ve had the time of my life.”– Justin Hilliard on his six-year career at Ohio State

Hilliard’s journey to become an Ohio State captain is already a made for Hollywood story that his father said he plans to turn into a book after his career in Ohio State, but the final chapters have not yet been written. Thanks to the NCAA giving him a sixth year in eligibility, Hilliard has the chance to play one more season at Ohio State before he will finally start pursuing a professional career.

While it’s not clear what Hilliard’s role will be this season in an Ohio State linebacker unit that includes seven total capitals, his status as team leader is now undisputed, and former NFL scout and current director of senior Bowl Jim Nagy said in a tweet this week that he is confident Hilliard will get the chance to play at the next level.

With a lot of support along the way from Ohio State – Carl Hilliard credited former Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer, who led the trouble for Justin to qualify for a sixth year, and Ohio State physical therapist, Ohio Stewart, who Justin’s rehabilitation led to each of his three injuries, as two people who played particularly important roles in his son’s success – Justin Hilliard has persevered through every challenge that has come his way to becoming captain of a team with so many respected leaders that Ryan Day said the Buckeyes “probably could have had 11 or 12 captains.”

Therefore, Tuesday was one of the proudest days of his father’s life.

‘Can you imagine being on the CV? A captain at Ohio State University, ‘said Carl. “Selected by his teammates and coaches as captain volumes, because I know that team is full of children with high personalities and good athletes. So for her to really see that in Justin as a leader, it’s just heartfelt. ”

Designed by Tricksfast Solutions
© Copyright 2024, All Rights Reserved