Junior cornerback Holton Hill has been suspended for the remainder of the 2017 season for a violation of team rules, Texas announced Tuesday.
“Hill will be permitted to continue working out with the Longhorns and remain a member of the team, but will not be permitted to participate in any games,” the Longhorns said.
The news of Hill’s suspension breaks in the midst of what was a breakout season for the junior cornerback. Hill is responsible for three of Texas’ six non-offensive touchdowns in 2017 and is currently second on the team with 51 tackles. Hill returned two interceptions for touchdowns in the Longhorns’ first two matchups against Maryland and San Jose State.
Hill’s other non-offensive touchdown also came in Texas’ season opener against Maryland when he returned a blocked field goal 65 yards for a touchdown. Hill is just the second player in school history (Brandon Foster, 2007) to score three non-offensive touchdowns in the same season and the only player in school history to do so in a two-game span. Hill also recorded six pass breakups and one forced fumble.
Texas’ secondary is now left without two prominent presences in the backfield: Holton Hill and junior nickelback PJ Locke III who sustained an ankle injury in Texas’ victory over Baylor two weeks ago.
The Longhorn secondary now relies primarily on juniors in safety DeShon Elliott and cornerback Kris Boyd. Texas (4–5 overall, 3–3 Big 12) is set to host 1–8 Kansas at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday at 5 p.m.
