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| Texans Rookie Linebacker Jamal Hill Drops Into Coverage During OTAs |
Transitioning from college football to the NFL is challenging when learning all the intricacies and nuisances of an NFL player’s day-to-day schedule.
Now imagine all that running through your mind as you are still transitioning into a position that you only played for one year, and you get drafted to play that position at the highest level with limited experience.
Former Oregon Ducks linebacker Jamal Hill, who started his college football career at safety and was a starter for two years, is now facing a new challenge. After being drafted by the Houston Texans in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, Hill switched to the linebacker position in his final season.
Despite the challenges, Hill is not alone in his transition. He has the advantage of learning from his head coach, DeMeco Ryans, who played linebacker for ten seasons. Additionally, his new teammate Azeez Al-Shaair, known as one of the best linebackers in the NFL, is there to guide him. Al-Shaair’s experience and willingness to share his knowledge are invaluable resources for Hill.
Shaair signed a three-year, $34 million contract to play for the Texans this past offseason. He has already taken a liking to Hill and wants to help him by offering the advice he was given as an undrafted rookie entering the league.
“I think the first thing is just slowing everything down and breaking it down,” said Shaair to reporters after the second day of Texans OTAs. “When you are making decisions from 10-12 yards deep, you have a chance to make a false step. But when you are five yards deep, that timing happens a lot quicker.
“So, I am just trying to get him to slow the game down. You have the trainer talking to you, and you might think it is a coach. You have no clue when you first come in as a rookie. Especially in a place like this (NRG Stadium). There is so much support from everywhere for the guys, which is great. But in that same tune, you are a rookie coming in, and it can be so overwhelming.”
Hill, 23, has made an impression on Ryans, who complimented his work ethic and his attention to detail after the rookie minicamp and fellow linebacker Christian Harris, who was one of the first people on the Texans roster to receive a phone call from Hill after he was drafted.
With training camp set to start in July, Shaair will take the remaining voluntary and mandatory OTAs to continue helping Hill acclimate to playing his position and life in the NFL.
“For a while, you won’t be able to let your instincts take over until you constantly do the same boring and repetitive thing over and over and over again,” said Shaair. “People always try to see how to be great and what that looks like, and it looks boring because you are doing the same thing over, over, and over.
“So, if you can perfect those little things over, over, and over and you are doing good at that, then you will become this great player because you are doing the same technique that you were taught from day one of OTAs.”