Texas Tech University Athletics
Where Are They Now?
November 07, 2002 | Football
Nov. 7, 2002
By Phillip Barnhard, Texas Tech Media Relations
Amidst all the glory of the "Dykes" era, former coach Spike Dykes produced amazing athletes that had great attitudes about the game, which most took to the next level of play. When we think of different positions, most of us can immediately name a few players from that era that made an impact at their positions. When linebacker is mentioned, many think of Zach Thomas and Shawn Banks, two of the most lethal players of the early 1990s. When it's "quarterback" spoken, many would include Zebbie Lethridge and Robert Hall in their arguments. When the receiver position is discussed, however, no one can compare to the numbers that Lloyd Hill put up during Dykes' reign.
If you kept up with Tech football during that time period, you may remember seeing a lightning quick player dawning the number 18 jersey running out of the tunnel and all over the opposing team's secondary. That was Hill. It's hard to say whether he posed more of a threat before he caught the ball or after the ball was in his hands. Whatever the case, he was a physical receiver who in the course of his four years at Tech, collected 3,059 career-receiving yards which was a Tech record that stood for eight years (Ricky Williams broke it in 2001).
Coming from a big high school program, Odessa Permian, Hill knew about the big games but found himself a little overwhelmed in his first at the collegiate level. In his first game as a Red Raider, Hill faced what many newcomers this year faced at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio against the Buckeyes.
"It was my first game as a freshman," Hill recalls. "And we stepped out on the field to a crowd of over 90,000. I came from a high school that saw 20,000 fans at a game, but 90,000 is just amazing!"
Out of all his glorious moments of receiving and scoring touchdowns, one of his favorite moments on the field had to do with neither of them. Tech was playing Southwest Conference contender Baylor in a tough conference match. It was later in the game when Hill threw an excellent block that allowed Byron "Bam" Morris to take the ball all the way down field for the touchdown. He also showed much appreciation from the guidance and personal relationships that coach Dykes had for his players.
"Coach Dykes was what you call a 'players' coach'," Hill explained. "You could walk in his office and just talk with him."
After Hill's career at Tech, he entered the NFL draft and was selected by the Chicago Bears in the sixth round. He played a few preseason games, but was released after the second to last game of the Bears' preseason schedule. Hill then went on to play a few years with the Shreveport Pirates in the Canadian Football League. After that, Hill headed back to Texas where he played with the Houston ThunderBears in the Arena Football League. While there, he played with former Tech quarterback Robert Hall where he caught familiar passes from a familiar arm. Hill finished his career with the ThunderBears and settled down in Grand Prairie, Texas along with his wife, Hannah, who he met at Tech, and his two children, Chasiddy and Lloyd K. Hill. He is currently working as a claims representative for Farmer's Insurance.
Looking at the program now, Hill commented that he can see a lot more passing now, more than he ever saw back in the early 1990s. He wishes there might be more of a balance between the two. He showed great pride for his former team, mentioning that he feels like they are one of the elite teams in the Big 12 and the country. He did express a little disappointment in one thing though. "I'm a little upset that Coach Leach allowed Ricky Williams to break my career receiving record up there at Tech," Hill said jokingly, "and I guess I blame Kliff too!"
