April 29, 2013
TEMPE, Ariz. - Former Cal defensive back Josh Hill is one of 16 rookie free agents to agree to terms on a contract with the Arizona Cardinals the NFL team announced Monday.
"It's great to finally have a dream come true," Hill said. "I can't wait to get out there and show what I can do. I've always had to prove myself so this is no different. It's another challenge to become a success. I can't wait."
Hill played in 48 games with 32 starts during the last four seasons of his five campaigns at Cal from 2008-12 as a versatile player who saw action at safety, cornerback and nickel back, as well as on special teams. He posted career totals of 214 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss (-18 yards), 1.0 sack (-4 yards), five interceptions that he returned for 46 yards and one touchdown, 24 pass breakups, 29 passes defended, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries that he returned two yards. He finished his career ranked 10th on the school's all-time list for pass breakups.
Hill started all 12 games for the first time in his career and earned honorable mention All-Pac-12 honors in a vote of the league's coaches as a senior in 2012. He also added a pair of team honors, capturing the Andy Smith Award for the Cal player with the most Big "C" time and one of the squad's two Cort Majors Team Captain Awards on the defensive side of the ball. Hill led team in tackles with a career-high 87 stops to rank 10th in the Pac-12 with an average of 7.25 stops per contest. He added an interception and a forced fumble, as well as nine pass breakups and 10 passes defended to rank second on the club in each of the latter two categories, with his average of 0.83 passes defended per game ranking 10th in the conference.
Hill played in all 13 games with six starts at the nickel back position as a 2011 junior when he ranked fifth on the club with 49 tackles and was one of five players to share the team lead with two interceptions that he combined to return for 32 yards and a touchdown that was the only interception return for a score by a Cal player in 2011. He added 3.0 tackles for loss (-11 yards), 1.0 sack (-4 yards), five pass breakups, seven passes defended and a forced fumble.
As a sophomore in 2010, Hill played in all 12 games with nine starts, including nine of the first 10 contests, seeing extensive action at safety and as a nickel back while also playing on special teams. He registered 44 tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss (-7 yards), a team-high-tying seven pass breakups all coming in the last four games and one fumble recovery.
Hill first saw action at Cal in 2009 when he made a strong contribution as a redshirt freshman, playing in 11 games and making five starts at a cornerback position. He contributed 34 tackles, two interceptions that he returned 14 yards, three pass breakups, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery that he returned two yards.
Hill is one of seven former Cal players from the team's 2012 roster to join an NFL team and bring Cal's total of NFL players to 45 according to ESPN.com.
The four Golden Bears selected in the 2013 NFL Draft were WR Keenan Allen (San Diego Chargers, third round, No. 76 overall), OL Marc Anthony (Baltimore Ravens, seventh round, No. 247 overall).
Hill, TB C.J. Anderson (Denver Broncos) and DL Aaron Tipoti (Buffalo Bills) have joined NFL teams following the completion of the 2013 draft.
Other former Cal players who completed their collegiate eligibility in 2012 that attended local pro days hosted by Cal and/or the San Francisco 49ers but were not selected for the 2013 NFL Draft or have yet to formally join NFL teams include TB Covaughn DeBoskie-Johnson (played senior year at Northern Arizona), DB Zach Maynard, LB Robert Mullins, DL Kendrick Payne, TB Matt Summers-Gavin.
Many players who are not drafted typically join NFL rosters shortly after the NFL Draft by signing undrafted free agent contracts. Cal will not announce information until players officially join NFL teams.
