Wow talk about a difference maker! Where did this kid come from? Until the Ravens vs. Browns game earlier this season, I had no clue who #40 on the Browns offense was. The difference this guy has made on the Cleveland offense is remarkable.
Hillis was drafted in 2008 by the Broncos in the seventh round. His college career was played at Arkansas.
Hillis started his career with the Broncos as fullback. He played in his first NFL regular season game on September 8, 2008, gaining 14 yards on three rushing attempts and four yards on one reception as part of a 41-14 Broncos road victory over the Oakland Raiders. Later in the season, he recorded his first career 100-yard receiving game with seven catches for 116 yards and a touchdown in a 26-17 Broncos home loss to the Miami Dolphins on November 2, 2008.
Following an injury to Ryan Torain, Hillis was named Denver's starting running back. His first start at the position netted him 44 yards and two touchdowns on only 10 carries. Two weeks later, he recorded his first 100-yard rushing game with 129 yards and a touchdown on 22 attempts in a 34-17 road victory over the Jets. Hillis later suffered a season-ending injury in a game against the Chiefs.. Despite his limited playing time, Hillis ended the 2008 season as the Broncos' leading rusher with 343 yards and 5 touchdowns and was expected to return as a significant offensive presence for the 2009 season.
During the Broncos 2009 season under new coach McDaniel's, Hillis saw almost no playing time for reasons not clear to him or fans and on March 14, 2010, the Broncos traded Hillis to the Cleveland Browns along with a sixth-round pick in the 2011 Draft and a conditional pick in the 2012 Draft in exchange for quarterback Brandy Quinn.
That leads us to today. Hillis is of course with his second team and is noticeably making a deference with the Browns.
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