Daxton Hill

Daxton Jor-El Hill, born on September 29, 2000, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, established himself as a prominent athlete from an early age. He attended Booker T. Washington High School, where he earned the Gatorade Football Player of the Year award for Oklahoma in 2019. Hill was a five-star recruit and participated in the 2019 U.S. Army All-American Game. He committed to playing college football at the University of Michigan, initially switching to the University of Alabama before returning to Michigan.

During his time with the Michigan Wolverines from 2019 to 2021, Hill made significant contributions. As a true freshman in 2019, he played in 13 games with three starts, recording 36 tackles and one interception. He continued to perform as a sophomore in 2020, starting six games and accumulating 46 tackles and one interception. In 2021, he achieved first-team All-Big Ten honors. Hill declared for the 2022 NFL Draft following his successful college career. He was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the first round as the 31st overall pick, signing a four-year, $11.66 million contract, including a $5.66 million signing bonus.

In his professional career with the Cincinnati Bengals, Hill has demonstrated adaptability and skill. During his rookie season in 2022, he primarily played safety and on special teams. He moved to cornerback in Week 15 due to injuries, recording 5 solo tackles and 3 assisted tackles in his first start at the position. In the 2023 season, he became the starting free safety, achieving his first career NFL interception against the Cleveland Browns and a career-high 12 tackles against the Baltimore Ravens. He also recorded his first career sack against the Los Angeles Rams. For the 2024 season, Hill transitioned to cornerback full-time, securing a starting role after beating out DJ Turner. However, his 2024 season was cut short due to a torn ACL in Week 5. The Bengals exercised a fifth-year option on his contract in April 2025, securing him for the 2026 season for $12,682,000.