Speedy WR Destyn Hill making believers during first week of FSU preseason

One of the biggest headlines of the summer for Florida State was the arrival of freshman wide receiver Destyn Hill.

The 2021 signee finally arrived in Tallahassee after a two-year delay due to personal reasons. And it hasn’t taken the New Orleans product long to show what he can do during preseason practice.

Hill has made impressive plays during every practice thus far, and Florida State head coach Mike Norvell thinks Hill will make an impact for the Seminoles sooner than later.

“I think he’s a guy who has a chance to put himself in a great position to help this football team this year, probably very early in it,” Norvell said practice on Monday. “He’s just got to continue to work and grow and get better. But I’m definitely very pleased with what he’s brought.”

One day, Hill was spotted snaring a touchdown pass over veteran defensive back Greedy Vance in the corner of the end zone. Another day, he shook safety Shyheim Brown for an easy score during 1-on-1 drills. And on another, he made a nifty one-handed catch on a 20-yard pass from backup quarterback Tate Rodemaker.

And each day, he seems to be getting more opportunities to work with Florida State’s top offensive players.

“He’s what we thought we were going to get,” Norvell said. “I mean, obviously, when you have the delay in enrollment and now coming in and learning the things that he’s being asked to do, you know, offensively, conceptually, just getting back in the swing of things of learning how we operate [takes time]. But he’s really done a great job through the summer.”

Fellow Louisiana native and Michigan State transfer Keon Coleman also praised Hill for being a quick study and putting in extra work.

“He’s a fast learner,” Coleman said. “Picked up the offense. Physical. He can run, he’s very fast. Getting in and out of his breaks and getting open and catching the ball. Pretty much the same thing he did when he was in high school, just at a different level. …

“Now that he’s able to critique the small things in route-running, he’s pretty good.”

Hill also has seen action on punt and kickoff returns in practice and could potentially earn a spot there as well.

While the transition to college football hasn’t been seamless for Hill — he appeared to struggle with body cramps during his first practice last week — he has clearly made a strong impression on Florida State’s veterans, including leading receiver Johnny Wilson.

“I was really impressed seeing him,” Wilson said. “Just over the summer, the work he put in over the summer, seeing where he is now … that dude’s been working his butt off. Seeing him out here making plays like that, running around, fighting through adversity the first couple of days — body going through it, not used to it — but you see him fight through that, you know. That’s something that I love. … He’s going to be great.”

Talk about this story with other die-hard FSU football fans on the Tribal Council.

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