Topic: Peyton Hillis

Peyton Hillis (born January 21, 1986 in Conway, Arkansas) is an American professional football running back for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL) since 2010. Hillis played collegiately for the University of Arkansas Razorbacks. Hillis was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft. Hillis attended Conway High School in Conway, Arkansas and was a highly touted recruit. Hillis chose to attend the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas where he was primarily used as a fullback. After being drafted in 2008, Hillis rose to the top of the depth chart as the starting fullback for the Broncos before being ushered to the starting running back position due to injuries to the running back corps. After spending two years in Denver, Hillis was traded to the Cleveland Browns in 2010. In 2011 Hillis won a nationwide vote which will put him on the cover of Electronic Arts' Madden NFL 12.

Hillis was born to Doug and Carrie Hillis on January 21, 1986 and raised in Conway, Arkansas. He played football for Conway High School from 1999–2003, where he played primarily as a fullback. As a junior, he rushed for 1,427 yards and 17 touchdowns, adding 133 yards and two touchdowns on receptions. As a senior, he rushed for 2,631 yards and 29 touchdowns on 261 carries for an average of 10.1 yards per carry. For his efforts, Hillis earned numerous Arkansas state football honors, including the 2003 Marvin Delph Award (named after the Conway native and Arkansas Razorback basketball legend), which identifies the Conway sportsman of the year, the 2003 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Offensive Player of the Year Award, and the 2003 Landers Award, which recognizes the top high school football player in Arkansas. Nationally, Hillis was named to the Parade All-America football team. Rivals.com listed him as the #1 fullback in the country and the #2 prospect from Arkansas for the 2004 college signing season. He was recruited by several schools nationwide including Alabama, Oklahoma, Colorado, Nebraska, Tennessee and Michigan, but chose to stay in-state and attend the University of Arkansas.

Hillis attended college at the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville from 2004–2008, majoring in Sociology. As a true freshman, Hillis gained 240 yards rushing, 97 yards receiving, and scored 8 touchdowns, ranking 4th in the SEC in total touchdowns and tying Georgia's Thomas Brown for most touchdowns scored by a SEC freshman that year.