PROVO, Utah – Former BYU football quarterback Taysom Hill was today named one of two 2017 NCAA DI Men’s HERO of the Year honorable mention recipients. The HERO of the Year award is presented to one female and one male graduating senior in each division of NCAA athletics, with two additional recipients named honorable mention.
HERO of the Year finalists are student-athletes who have demonstrated tremendous athletic, academic and leadership skill throughout their collegiate careers. Makani Kema-Kaleiwahea from the University of Hawai’i was named the winner of this year’s award. Rice University’s Darik Dillard joined Hill as one of the two honorable mention recipients.
Despite suffering four season-ending injuries, Hill finished his career at BYU as one of the all-time greats. In the BYU record books, he finished fifth in career rushing yards (first among quarterbacks) with 2,815 and 11th in passing yards (6,929). During his career, he was named to numerous preseason watch lists: Heisman Trophy, Walter Camp, Davey O’Brien Award, Maxwell Award and CFPA Performer of the Year.
Off the field, Hill served a two-year LDS mission to Sydney, Australia and was an exemplary student. He graduated with a degree in finance prior to his final season at BYU while maintaining a 3.45 GPA. Additionally, he earned an $18,000 post-graduate scholarship as an National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete and was named a William V. Campbell Trophy Finalist.
Following his career at BYU, Hill is currently in the Green Bay Packers’ training camp to pursue a career in the NFL.
Hill joins former Cougar volleyball middle blocker Amy Boswell as a 2017 honorable mention recipient of the HERO of the Year award. BYU was the only school in the country to have both a female and male athlete recognized.