Tarvoris Hill is one of the most battled veterans on Florida Atlantic’s defense, having 21 career starts at the cornerback position, but to most fans his hard work and production are unknown. A redshirt-senior entering the 2010 season, Hill has 91 career tackles and two interceptions for the Owls and has often had to play in the shadow of fellow cornerback Tavious Polo.

Hill began the 2008 season as the starting cornerback opposite of Tavious Pol,o and has held that position ever since. Playing his best football against some of the top competition, Hill had six tackles against South Carolina and five tackles and an interception against Nebraska. Hill’s best outing came last season when he had a career-high seven tackles versus Wyoming. Missing the final four games of last year’s season due to a broken forearm, Hill still managed to finish the year with 27 tackles and a pass broken up.

A product of Central High School in Miami, Florida, Hill played football and ran track while in school, and earned All-County honors his senior season, after having 59 tackles and nine interceptions. Often recording music, Hill claims to have made some individual tracks of himself, and would like to someday produce a mix tape when football is over.

Hill recently sat down with us for “Up Close”.

Quick Hits

What is your favorite food?

“Pepper steak.”

What is your pet peeve?

“When somebody calls or texts me, I see how you forgot about me.”

Who is your current off the field role model?

“My mom. No matter how much adversity she has to overcome, she puts her faith in God.”

What are you most proud of?

“I’m going to be the first person in my family to graduate college come this fall.”

What is your major?

“Criminal Justice. I want to be a parole officer.”

What is your Faith?

“Christian.”

Line of scrimmage

What aspect of your game do you feel is your strength?

“Experience. There are a lot of times out there, where I will recognize a play in a few seconds and already know what the whole offense
will do. I watch about two hours of film a week and it also comes from playing in games.”

What aspect of your game do you feel is your weakness?

“Sometimes I’m a little risky and take some chances. I will diagnose the play and then try to make a break on it, if you win you’re the
hero but if you’re wrong you’re not.”

Down the field

Besides football, what brought you to FAU?

“All of my other offers were up north, and I didn’t want to go that far from home. It is far enough from home but still close enough. I
don’t like the snow.”

What are your goals for the upcoming season?

“Get some national exposure, I need interceptions.”

What game are you looking forward to the most next season?

“Texas. They are the big dogs up there and we got to knock them off.”

What do you want FAU fans to know about you personally?

“I record a little music and I have a pit bull named Blue, it’s like my son.”

Touchdown

Coming up, our next player is a happily married husband.