Kenny Hilliard is a Person of Influence
On the football field, Kenny Hilliard is a 6-foot, 232-pound battering ram of a man, but off the field he is just a laid-back guy with a perpetual smile on his face.
Hilliard is a senior running back at LSU and during his four years with the Tigers, he seems to have left an impact on everybody around him in one way or another. His fellow senior running back Terrence Magee is certainly no exception.
“He’s more like a brother to me than a friend,” Magee said. “We have a deep relationship. I can call him at any time, and he can call me to talk about anything.”
“I don’t care what’s going on he (Hilliard) has always got a big smile on his face,” Magee said. “If he’s down, you would never know it because of the smile on his face.”
Magee wasn’t the only LSU player to mention Hilliard’s perennial smile. Just about anyone who knows Kenny Hilliard will be quick to mention his infectious smile. He has built reputation as being a fun-loving, happy-go-lucky kind of guy.
But don’t let Hilliard’s friendly demeanor fool you. When he straps on his pads, he is all business, and if any defender isn’t prepared to take a hit, Hilliard will make him pay for it.
Hilliard’s powerful running style was on full display on a 95-yard game-winning touchdown drive in LSU’s upset against third-ranked Ole Miss last month.
Hilliard took the handoff from the shadow of his own goal post and barreled ahead for 18 yards and a first down. This run set the tone for 12 straight running plays capped off by a play-action pass for the go-ahead touchdown with five minutes remaining.
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On the drive, Hilliard rushed six times for 47 hard-earned yards. Hilliard’s efforts did not go unnoticed by LSU coach Les Miles.
“(Hilliard) ran through some tackles and was not going to be denied a first down,” Miles said.
Middle linebacker Kendell Beckwith has built a reputation for delivering devastating hits, but even he was quick to comment on Hilliard’s running style. Beckwith said in the spring while he was learning his new position at middle linebacker, Hilliard lowered a shoulder and slammed into Beckwith. Hilliard left him quite shaken up, Beckwith said.
“Tackling Kenny is rough,” Beckwith said. “He’s pretty big. You have to bring it when you hit him.”
Senior free safety Ronald Martin agreed with Beckwith’s sentiments. Hilliard is a load and trying to tackle him for the last four years has been a tall order, Martin said.
This is the running style Hilliard has used to rush for more than 1,500 yards and find the end zone 27 times during his career at LSU.
Over the course of his four years at LSU, Hilliard has provided invaluable leadership to his team. Hilliard said he is not very outspoken, but he likes to lead by example. Miles endorsed Hilliard as a team leader and was happy to see him stick around for his senior season rather than depart for the NFL last season.
“I think Kenny Hilliard is very much a team leader and a guy that has really improved his skills and ability based on him staying,” Miles said. “He is a leader and a guy we root for. I can see him finding success in any context.”
In the last two years, LSU has sent 18 players with remaining eligibility to the NFL, which is more than any other team in the country. So, the impact of Hilliard’s leadership and experience is impossible to overstate.
Hilliard said his role on the team has become teaching young guys how to play hard and physical football.
Magee verified Hilliard’s position and added that LSU is a team where young guys come in and play big roles early on. It’s the veteran’s job to get young guys ready to perform in these roles, Magee said. The entire team seems to be on the same page when referring Hilliard’s leadership style.
“Since I was a freshman, he has always been a great leader for me, and he’s just been getting better since I’ve been here,” sophomore offensive tackle Jerald Hawkins said. “His leadership as a whole is pretty great.”
“He is always doing the right stuff on and off the field,” sophomore offensive lineman Ethan Pocic said. “In the weight room, he is always working hard. A young guy will see what he does, and they follow him.”
Hilliard is excited see the fruits of his labor and perseverance displayed on Senior Night as LSU takes the field against Alabama.
“It’s (Senior Night) going to be a big deal to all of our seniors,” Hilliard said “It’s one last time playing in that stadium in front of our fans and friends. It’s going to be an emotional day, but we just have to come out, play hard and get the win over Alabama.
“It (LSU’s biggest rival) used to be Ole Miss. But now it’s Alabama. It’s kind of a big deal. We have to beat Alabama.”
Playing for LSU was always a dream for Hilliard. Hilliard is the nephew of LSU legend Dalton Hilliard. Kenny said it was his uncle who inspired him to come to LSU.
“All my life I wanted to come here,” Hilliard said. “I watched my uncle and he inspired me to come here. Playing in front of the state of Louisiana is great. We have great fans and great food.”
Hilliard plans to graduate from LSU in December with a degree in interdisciplinary studies.
“To be able to get a degree is the greatest gift that he could give to his family,” Magee said. “Football doesn’t last forever, and he is giving his family a lifetime of security with a degree.”
After LSU plays Alabama, Kenny Hilliard will walk out of Tiger Stadium for the final time. His future might not be determined yet, but his legacy is cemented in Tiger history.
Kenny Hilliard will always be remembered as the man who never went down without wrestling for extra yardage, the man whose smile lit up the entire team for years, and the man who fearlessly led his team through the good times and the bad.
Whether it’s a devastating blow to a defender on his way to the end zone or his leadership to the team, Kenny Hilliard‘s impact will be felt long after he leaves LSU.