Daxton Hill

Daxton Jor-El Hill (born September 29, 2000) is an American football cornerback for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at the University of Michigan, where he was named an All-Big Ten selection. He was drafted by the Bengals in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft.

Early life
Hill attended Booker T. Washington High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma. As a senior in 2019, he was the Gatorade Football Player of the Year for Oklahoma. He played in the 2019 U.S. Army All-American Game. A five star recruit, he committed to play college football at the University of Michigan before switching to the University of Alabama and then back to Michigan.

College career
As a true freshman at Michigan in 2019, Hill played in 13 games with three starts and had 36 tackles and one interception. As a sophomore in 2020, he started six games, recording 46 tackles and one interception. He returned to Michigan as a starter in 2021 and received first-team all conference honors. Hill declared for the 2022 NFL Draft following the 2021 season.

2022
Hill was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the first round (31st overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft.

Hill was eased into his rookie year by Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, backing up Jessie Bates at free safety, and playing as a gunner on special teams snaps alongside Stanley Morgan.

In Week 15 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Hill would play his first game as a starter, switching positions to cornerback due to both regular starter Mike Hilton and backup Jalen Davis suffering injuries the week prior. Hill played in a nickelback role for the game, recording 5 solo tackles and 3 assisted tackles.

2023
In his second season, Hill was named as the starting free safety. During the Bengals' Week 1 loss against the Cleveland Browns, Hill recorded his first career interception off of quarterback Deshaun Watson. Hill had a career high in tackles in Week 2 against the Baltimore Ravens, making 12 total tackles, nine of which were solo.

Hill's first career sack came during the Week 3 game against the Los Angeles Rams, and he was credited with another half-sack in Week 5 against the Arizona Cardinals.

Personal life
Hill's middle name Jor-El was taken from the comic book character of the same name. His brother, Justice Hill, played running back for the Oklahoma State Cowboys and was drafted by the Ravens in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft.