MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Four-star quarterback Antwann Hill Jr. is the definition of a game-changer for the Memphis Tigers, and the new recruit is more than onboard.
"The FedEx deal, I ain't just coming in for that," Hill told ABC24. "I'm coming in to change the program and make the program better."
Memphis beat out more than 30 other Division 1 programs to land the 6-foot-5, 215-pound quarterback who is about to enter his senior year at Houston County High School.
"I probably would have had to sit and wait for a couple of years to see the field, but with Memphis as a freshman, I could see the field, so I don't think nobody would pass up that opportunity right there," Hill said.
It's a very real possibility for the Georgia native. Memphis' starting QB Seth Henigan is set to exhaust his college eligibility at the end of this season, leaving the starting spot in 2025 wide open.
"The biggest thing is just finding that consistency," Memphis head football coach Ryan Silverfield said. "What you don't want to do is have one year, one out, one year, one out at that position. Hopefully we find the right guy."
Hill is confident he is that guy.
"The spot is mine to take," Hill said "I've just got to go in and earn it."
"Everybody loves to tell these kids 'You're a dual threat,' or 'You're a pro style.' I don't know what that means," Houston County High School head football coach Jeremy Edwards said. "AJ Hill is a football player, and he's going to do whatever he needs to get the job done."
If Hill locks up that starting spot, he'd be one of the youngest guys on the team, something he's no stranger to.
"He played as a freshman, which is very rare in the state of Georgia," Edwards said. "He was kind of thrown into the fire as a freshman. At times running around, he looked like a baby giraffe. He was long and lanky, but now he's really filled in."
In his freshman season, Hill completed 84 of 182 passes for 46.2%, 1,027 yards, 8 touchdowns and 9 interceptions.
Hill stepped things up a notch in his sophomore season, completing 268 of 380 for 70.5%, 3662 yards, 40 touchdowns and 3 interceptions.
During Hill's junior year he completed 203 of 312 passes for 65.1%, 2732 yards, 31 touchdowns and 5 interceptions.
"I'm partial now because I love AJ, and he's my guy, but I don't know that anybody else can throw it any better than him in the country," Edwards said. "He's got such a drive and a work ethic and is humble, which is rare these days."
Knowing that Memphis gave a 17-year-old Henigan the keys to the castle gives Hill hope they'll do it again, but also gives him confidence that the program can help mold him into the player he wants to be.
"They're bringing me into the same system they brought him into," Hill said. "I really think that program is going to change me a lot and show my talents and abilities to the NFL scouts and get me ready for the league."
According to On3 Industry Ranking, Hill is ranked as the 200th overall prospect in his class and the 15th best quarterback. Hill was also the top uncommitted quarterback in the class of 2025.
The QB initially committed to Colorado last year but chose to decommit and reopen his recruiting, which allowed Memphis to try and get Hill.
Memphis football begins the 2024 season on Saturday, Aug. 31, at 6 p.m. at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium.