The University of Memphis football program hosted Antwann Hill for an official visit the weekend of June 7 and struck quickly, nabbing a commitment from the 6-foot-5, 215-pound quarterback a few weeks later on June 22. Regardless of that short timeline, this wasn’t a flash-in-the-pan recruitment. Memphis head coach Ryan Silverfield and staff have a long-term investment in their future QB1 in more ways than one.
GoTigers247 was given an inside and in-depth look at Hill’s recruitment process by his representative Bryan Miller from Peterson Sports.
Starting out, Miller told GoTigers247 that Memphis’ authenticity was the ultimate confidence booster for Hill, Miller, and their team.
“I’d say the authenticity of everyone in the Memphis athletic department,” Miller said. “Silverfield and the rest of his staff did an incredible job showing that AJ [Antwann] was their guy from Day 1.
“The communication never deviated; every conversation was a group effort manifesting a vision of winning, accomplishing team goals, personal goals, and a meticulous plan of growth on and off the field as a young man with a trajectory towards the NFL.”
In Miller’s words, Memphis checked every box. Miller described the Tigers’ coaching staff as passionate, energetic, and firey. Ultimately, though, it was their in-depth plan that went way below the surface that led the discussions toward Hill’s commitment to the Tigers.
“Those things played a big part in this recruiting process: months of discussions, playing out different scenarios, talking to his High School Coach Jeremy Edwards, and weighing out the pros and the cons daily with his supporting cast.”
That cast is made up of the aforementioned Miller and Edwards, Hill’s father Antwann Hill Sr., family friend/mentor/celebrity artist Quavo, and Miller’s business partner, James Peterson (founder of Peterson Sports).
As business partners and mentors to Hill, Peterson and Miller used their industry experience and love for the family as a framework for what they saw as a fit for Hill.
“We identified a staff who genuinely cares for AJ,” Miller said. “People we can entrust to be there for him throughout all of the adversity that being a starting quarterback in Division I football comes with. But, most importantly, all of the adversity that you may face throughout life in general.
“The overall consensus is our family just got bigger, just got stronger, and the people in our corner now are going to do whatever it takes to help us continue on a path of success.”
Hill’s commitment sent shock waves through the college football recruiting landscape, but he made more waves when Miller published a video of a custom hand-drawn and designed chain gifted to “AJ” by Quavo. Quavo, who joined AJ on his Instagram Live commitment video and has over 19,000,000 monthly listeners on the streaming platform Spotify, is also the owner of Team Huncho, the 7v7 team that featured Hill.
Lots of ice for the coldest QB in the country ? @antwann_jr
Very unique piece, it was hand drawn/designed by @QuavoStuntin pic.twitter.com/odymQ7vAlh
— Bryan (@BNM_777k) June 29, 2024
“Great kid,” Quavo said. “You’re getting a dawg who wants the ball in his hands during crucial moments in the game. He is as loyal as they come, he’s ready to learn, put his head down and work to take that next step in his career. That’s family right there, and he’s got my support every step of the way. The sky’s the limit; I’ll be there at some of those games watching his hard work pay off.”
At the end of the day, Hill’s team and Memphis’ program just fit. Miller’s description, however, emphasizes how much it also came down to the perfect alignment of stars and timing.
“We found a program on the rise, fresh off a 10-win season, superstar head coach and coordinating staff, an explosive offensive system, and a likely upcoming playoff birth stemming from the new expansion rules. It’s a win-win.”
Like the diamonds in Hill’s new chain, it all lined up. Fittingly, Quavo capped off his comments with the ultimate book-end for this Memphis staff and Tigers’ fans alike.
“Go Tigers.”
CUTTING ROOM FLOOR
Miller on what Antwann Hill brings to the table for the Tigers:
“AJ brings excitement to the city of Memphis, everyone has embraced him; and we often joke in a very serious manner about the effect he can have on the program long term. Something similar to the success Mike Vick had at Virginia Tech: taking a great program — one who may be overlooked slightly — and turning them into a national championship contender.”
Antwann Hill Sr. on Memphis’ approach to AJ’s recruitment:
“Everyone in the Memphis program and community has heart. They have a strong culture and community that supports them, and that has great impact. The thing that gave me confidence was the way they recruited AJ in this process. Memphis did a hell of a job putting together a plan for AJ to come in and succeed. They had a plan for him to succeed on the field and academically and even life after football. The main objective is life after football.”
SCOUTING HILL
247Sports national analyst Cooper Petagna:
“One of the most intriguing quarterback evaluations of this cycle, the Top247 standout strung together one of his most complete performances in recent history,” writes Petagna. “Standing at 6-foot-5 and 215 pounds, Hill possesses a physically imposing frame and a live arm that is more than capable of registering a few eyebrow raises from spectators when in an event setting. Although there are areas of his game as a passer that certainly need some polish, it’s hard to ignore Hill’s flashes of raw ability and developmental upside at the quarterback position. An untapped ball of clay in some respects, it will be important for Hill to find a comfortable landing spot at the next level where he can learn and develop as he gains experience.”
Miller on Hill:
“I’ve been in the industry for a while and had the opportunity to play at a pretty high level, so I know what I’m looking at,” Miller said. “AJ is electric. He has all of the physical intangibles that current NFL quarterbacks have. He can make every throw. His accuracy, anticipation, and football IQ are off the charts for his age. I’ve watched him extend plays and make how-did-he-do-that throws frequently. Obviously, those types of throws and play-making abilities got him the stars and national recruiting attention, but the consummate pro he is on and off the field is his most favorable trait. He’s an incredible young man with a hunger to learn, get better, and help his team win at all costs. That’s what the city of Memphis is getting with their new signal caller. And to cap it all off, the confidence and belief coach Silverfield and the staff have in Antwann will only strengthen his play. That’s a recipe for success. The sky is the limit, Tiger nation.”
247SPORTS RATING
247Sports tags Hill with a four-star grade of 91. It slots him as the nation’s No. 220 overall prospect, No. 15 quarterback and No. 32 player in Georgia for the 2025 class. The industry-generated 247Sports Composite slots Hill as the nation’s No. 218 overall prospect and No. 18 quarterback.
