University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Brandon Hill Selected to Thorpe Award Watch List
7/25/2022 10:00:00 AM | Football
PITTSBURGH – Pitt junior safety Brandon Hill was named to the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award watch list on Monday as a 2022 preseason candidate for college football defensive back of the year.
Hill (Apopka, Fla./Wekiva) excelled in 2021 in his first season as a full-time starter for the Panthers, leading the secondary for an aggressive defense that forced 23 turnovers, including 16 interceptions.
Pitt's 5-foot-11, 195-pound strong safety started 13 of 14 games and totaled 81 tackles, one TFL, six pass breakups, two interceptions, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble. Hill was named to the 2021 All-ACC Football Team (second team) and was a Thorpe Award semifinalist last season.
Hill's consistent production – he recorded multiple tackles in every game and finished second on the team with 81 stops – helped Pitt win its first outright conference championship in program history.
The Florida native showed a penchant for big plays in key moments as well. His interception with 4:52 remaining at Tennessee helped seal Pitt's 41-34 victory and he also ended a Michigan State drive with a red zone interception in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. Hill was named ACC Defensive Back of the Week following his performance in Knoxville as the Panthers picked up an early season SEC triumph.
Other 2021 highlights for Hill included his 11 tackles and three PBUs in the crucial win over Clemson, nine tackles and a TFL at Georgia Tech, nine tackles against North Carolina, a forced fumble against Miami and a fumble recovery at Duke.
Hill and the Panthers open the 2022 campaign with the highly anticipated renewal of the Backyard Brawl against West Virginia on Sept. 1 at Acrisure Stadium. ESPN's College GameDay will provide coverage from the game, one of the marquee contests of the first full week of the college football season.
Pitt football season tickets, which start at just $180, are currently on sale at PittsburghPanthers.com. For pricing, seating maps, season ticket holder benefits and more, click here or call (800) 643-7488.
#H2P | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Hill (Apopka, Fla./Wekiva) excelled in 2021 in his first season as a full-time starter for the Panthers, leading the secondary for an aggressive defense that forced 23 turnovers, including 16 interceptions.
Pitt's 5-foot-11, 195-pound strong safety started 13 of 14 games and totaled 81 tackles, one TFL, six pass breakups, two interceptions, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble. Hill was named to the 2021 All-ACC Football Team (second team) and was a Thorpe Award semifinalist last season.
Hill's consistent production – he recorded multiple tackles in every game and finished second on the team with 81 stops – helped Pitt win its first outright conference championship in program history.
The Florida native showed a penchant for big plays in key moments as well. His interception with 4:52 remaining at Tennessee helped seal Pitt's 41-34 victory and he also ended a Michigan State drive with a red zone interception in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. Hill was named ACC Defensive Back of the Week following his performance in Knoxville as the Panthers picked up an early season SEC triumph.
Other 2021 highlights for Hill included his 11 tackles and three PBUs in the crucial win over Clemson, nine tackles and a TFL at Georgia Tech, nine tackles against North Carolina, a forced fumble against Miami and a fumble recovery at Duke.
Hill and the Panthers open the 2022 campaign with the highly anticipated renewal of the Backyard Brawl against West Virginia on Sept. 1 at Acrisure Stadium. ESPN's College GameDay will provide coverage from the game, one of the marquee contests of the first full week of the college football season.
Pitt football season tickets, which start at just $180, are currently on sale at PittsburghPanthers.com. For pricing, seating maps, season ticket holder benefits and more, click here or call (800) 643-7488.
#H2P | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Players Mentioned
DB
/ FootballPitt Football | Meet the defensive backs!
Monday, February 23
Pitt Football | The Pitt Iron Works
Saturday, February 21
Pitt Football | Newcomer Media Availability | 2.11.26
Friday, February 20
Pitt Football | Newcomer Media Availability | Defensive Backs | 2.13.26
Friday, February 20