Alex Atkins reveals what impresses him the most about Destyn Hill
Florida State wide receiver Destyn Hill did not join the rest of his 2021 signing class in Tallahassee two years ago, taking some time away from the game due to personal and family matters. But in May he enrolled into FSU and joined the team, and in fall camp so far he’s been turning heads with numerous big plays.
Florida State offensive coordinator Alex Atkins was asked about Hill following the team’s most recent scrimmage of camp, and his ability to already perform at a high level despite a two-year hiatus from organized football.
“It’s his mindset,” Atkins said. “Our job as coaches, we have talented players, and the work is hard. Man it’s a long camp, it’s every day, it’s all day, it’s not like a refreshment period. So really it’s training the mindset of how to approach, but at the end he has something that’s hard to find. He has desire.”
Hill was a four-star high school prospect out of Edna Karr in New Orleans, where he was ranked the No. 18 wide receiver in the nation and the No. 5 player in the state of Louisiana according to On3’s Industry Ranking. And it sounds like so far he’s lived up to that rating at Seminoles’ fall camp.
But despite numerous reports of his speed and playmaking ability being on display, Atkins is most impressed with what he’s brought to the table from the neck up.
“Whereas you don’t have to motivate or inspire him, it’s already in him. He knows why he’s doing it, he know’s why he wants to do it, so those are the ones you have to protect from themselves,” Atkins explained. “As long as there’s work, he’s going to go find it. I really want to praise his mindset and his approach of his preparation which is allowing him to have those opportunities.”
Despite technically being a freshman, it sounds like Hill is mature beyond his years, which could be a direct result of his two years away from the game. But him already possessing key intangibles along with his ability could make him poised for not only a breakout debut season for the Seminoles, but an impressive collegiate career and beyond.
“Sometimes as a coach, you have a guy with all the talent in the world but the desire isn’t quite there yet, so you have to inspire them for the desire so instead of making them meet they want to meet, they want to go get the work. He has that in him already man. He comes from a wonderful high school program, he knows why he’s working and what he wants to get out of this,” Atkins concluded.