Wes Hills had been stuck between the Rock and a pro place.
But that all changed this week as the former Slippery Rock star running back was invited to rookie minicamp with the Arizona Cardinals. He is expected to sign a free agent contract.
Hills, a native of Wildwood, N.J., played one season at Slippery Rock after leaving Delaware. He missed three games with a shoulder injury but still broke the Rock’s single-season rushing record with 1,714 yards and 17 touchdowns.
After a minicamp tryout with the Seattle Seahawks last week, Hills had to cancel a similar trip to Atlanta with the Falcons when the Cardinals called.
“We’re so thrilled for Wes and his family,” Slippery Rock coach Shawn Lutz said in a news release. “Wes came in from Day 1 and bought into everything we wanted to do here. We told him if he came here and played to his potential, he would have a chance to put himself in this position and he certainly did that. We know the Cardinals are getting a guy that will work his tail off to be successful at the NFL level.”
Hills, who had seven 100-yard games, was named to the Associated Press All-America team in addition to all-region and All-PSAC honors. Slippery Rock went 11-3 (7-0 PSAC West) and reached the NCAA Division II quarterfinals.
The team finished No. 7 in the national rankings.
Hills’ rise to the pros has been a steady upward progression since his senior season ended. He played in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl at the Rose Bowl and was named MVP in the game, rushing for 78 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries.
He accepted an invite to the Reese’s Senior Bowl and broke off a 21-yard run before pulling up lame with an injury.
Slippery Rock has produced seven NFL camp invitees in the past five years. The others are Brandon Fusco, Marcus Martin, Ian Park, Marcus Johnson, Cory Tucker and Titus Howard.
