BIG EASY DECISION: Mainland 4-star linebacker Rodney Hill commits to AAC champ Tulane

GAINESVILLE — Rodney Hill said he would rather spend most Saturday afternoons cutting the grass than sitting on the couch and consuming hours upon hours of college football.

Yet, Tulane managed to catch Hill's attention at various points during the 2022 season — an historic one for the American Athletic Conference and Cotton Bowl champions. When the Green Wave's coaches came calling this spring and made him a priority target, Hill's big decision suddenly became easy.

Hill committed to Tulane on Sunday evening, at the conclusion of his official visit in New Orleans — a trip that included the region's culinary staples (crawfish, oysters, shrimp and grits, etc.) and a Mardi Gras-style parade with beads, a float and the school's marching band.

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"As soon as I stepped foot on campus, it felt like home to me," Hill said during a 7-on-7 tournament Wednesday at the University of Florida. "They welcomed me like family, and I really enjoyed myself. … They were very excited to get me there, and I was one of the top recruits on their board."

And with good reason.

Hill, a consensus four-star prospect and All-Area selection, earned positional MVP honors at the Under Armour Next series camp in Orlando back in March. He registered the most solo tackles (102) across Volusia, Flagler and St. Johns counties last fall at Flagler Palm Coast, and returned an interception nearly 100 yards to clinch the program's district championship in a win over Nease.

More than 20 schools verbally offered Hill, including a handful of Power Five teams (Iowa State, Pittsburgh, Tennessee and UCF). However, some schools cooled their interest over concerns surrounding Hill's 5-foot-11 measured height, Mainland head coach Travis Roland said.

"I think Tulane is getting one of the best linebackers in the country," Roland said. "You're talking about a kid who is 215 pounds and has run 11.3 (in the 100-meter dash) and 22.8 in the 200. There are not many athletes better. He's a freak in the weight room, benching 335 and squating 450 pounds. You don't find that in many high school kids, no matter how tall they are."

Should Hill sign with Tulane later this year, and assuming his composite score does not change, he would become the highest-ranked high school recruit in program history, according to 247Sports.

Following its Cotton Bowl triumph, Tulane put a pair of linebackers into the NFL this year. Dorian Williams was selected in the third round (91st overall) by the Buffalo Bills, and Nick Anderson signed a contract with the hometown New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent.

That appeals to Hill, who transferred to Mainland ahead of the start of spring ball in May. He will be a key cog in one of the state's most talented defenses — a unit that includes highly coveted defensive lineman LJ McCray and defensive back Zavier Mincey, along with emerging talents such as cornerback Ezaiah Shine and defensive end Ramon McCollough.

Hill sacked West Orange quarterback Trever Jackson twice in last month's spring game, putting points on the board for the Buccaneers with a safety and a short-yardage rushing touchdown.

With a college spot secured, Hill will turn his focus toward helping the Bucs return to the Florida High School Athletic Association's Class 3S state championship game and getting the program over the hump for the first time in 20 years.

"(The recruiting process) was a very fun experience. You get to travel a lot and take your family out of state. It's always a great opportunity," Hill said. "There were some ups and downs, people that doubted me because I'm too small. But it all comes to light, and I feel like Tulane is a great fit for me.

"This will make me grind harder to show that it can be done by a smaller person, and that size doesn't matter."

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Tulane snags commitment from Mainland 4-star linebacker Rodney Hill