Locked On Hawkeyes - Daily Podcast On Iowa Hawkeyes Football & Basketball - Newest Hawkeye Deavin Hilson joins the show to talk about his recruitment, his future at Iowa, and what inspires him

Episode Date: January 31, 2021

The most recent commitment in the class of 2021, Deavin Hilson, joins the show today for our bonus, ad-free Sunday episode of the show. We talk about how the pandemic impacted his senior season, why he never even thought about leaving, and why joining the Iowa Hawkeyes is so special.You're going to want to remember this kids' name. Big things are ahead.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!KeepsIf you’re ready to take action and prevent hair loss, go to Keeps.com/LOCKEDONCOLLEGE to receive your first month of treatment for free.Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON,” and you’ll get 20% off your next order.BetOnline AGThere is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You are Locked On Hawkeyes, your daily podcast on the Iowa Hawkeyes. Part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. Welcome back, Hawkeye Nation, to a bonus Sunday morning episode of the Locked On Hawkeyes Podcast, your daily podcast covering your Iowa Hawkeyes on the Locked On Sports Network. As always, I am your host, Andrew Wade, and you might be wondering, Andrew, why are we doing a bonus episode on a Sunday? Well, it was just the absolute perfect timing. I interviewed the latest commitment in the class of 2021 to the Iowa Hawkeyes, Devin

Hilson, on Friday. He committed yesterday. And I felt like it was just important to give him his own episode today. I know we have a lot of content coming up this week. I didn't want this conversation to get lost in the shuffle because I came away incredibly impressed by Devin's presence, why he's doing what he's doing, his enjoyment of the game, his love of wanting to be an Iowa Hawkeye and why he's doing what he's doing. The whole concept was amazing. I really enjoyed that conversation. So I wanted to give him an opportunity to speak on the show and really just focus on what Devin Hilson is bringing to the table. The last commit

in the class of 2021. Very excited for his future as an Iowa Hawkeye. Coming out of Des Moines North, a outside linebacker slash running back prospect. Looks like right now Iowa envisions him as a running back, which is awesome. I definitely need some depth there early. And then obviously we're going to need someone to fill in once we see Tyler Goodson and others leave. So really excited about his potential, what he brings to the table. And with that being said, let's get into our conversation with Devin Hilson, the latest commit in the class of 2021 for the Iowa Hawkeyes. I have the honor to be joined here by Devin Hilson,

quite possibly one of the newest members of Swarm 21 of the Iowa Hawkeyes. Devin, I appreciate you taking the time out of your day. You're on the way to basketball practice right now, and you decided to join me on the Lockdown Hawkeyes. First, though, how are you doing today, man? It's Friday. You got basketball practice. How you doing? I'm doing pretty good, you know,

just about to get the day started with the hoops. Yeah, man, you had a game last night, right? Yep, we played Hoover. We beat them by 15. Nice, exciting. What was your stat line? I had 12, 6 assists, 10 rebounds, and 5 steals. I like it, I like it.

I like it. All right. So obviously you have some success in the basketball court, but where you're known for at this point is on the gridiron. And you unfortunately were not able to play a lot of games this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, but obviously schools around the state of Iowa were able to play. How was that for you?

How tough was that for you? And what were your thoughts on maybe even transferring or going to a different school to get some playing time? Man, I mean, honestly, I never thought about transferring just because, like, my thing is I'm going to always stay with the school I came with. But it was hard for me knowing that knowing that like the one city out of I don't know how many in Iowa there is the only one not allowing the players to play um I mean it was just I was

more mad at the fact that it was my senior year that it happened like if it was my junior year sophomore year like okay you know I still have another time but this is like my last go and knowing that it was could I could have we could have possibly not had any games uh just knowing that like hurt my soul just knowing that I put in all that hard work and I thought it would be for nothing yeah um Obviously, we got the two games in. I wish we had the whole schedule, but, you know, they ended up canceling it. But, you know, I'm still glad that I could do what I could while I was out there for those two games.

Absolutely, man. So, obviously, you're also relatively close to Dowling. I just got to ask you, you don't have to tell me, but was Dowling looking at trying to bring you over to their school for this year considering they are a private school and they can kind of do that and basically get around some of the the rules and regulations I mean me personally I never heard anything like that I mean a lot of things I mean people telling me to go over here to go to uh Valley, and, you know, just all this other stuff. I mean, but personally, I never heard, like, you know,

any of the coaches or anybody trying to reach out and be like, even if they did, you know, I wasn't going to go anywhere because, you know, I'm just a North Star. That's, you know, I'm just, this is where I'm at. But, no, I've heard everything. Yeah, no, I can definitely respect that, the loyalty to the school, obviously where you kind of came from. As far as the football recruiting aspect has gone, again,

it's been very interesting the last couple of years. You are one of, you know, you'd be the first person from Des Moines North in quite some time to get a scholarship offer and go play D1 football. Right now you hold an offer to Northern Iowa. You're looking to get that offer potentially to Iowa, which we'll touch on here in a little bit. But what was it like not being able to go to camps because that's a huge part of recruiting um so what have you been doing to try to show football coaches that you are ready and you can play at that level yeah um well I went to a couple uh D2 camps uh you know I still you

know worked hard there while I was there um you know for some reason they had some stuff going on with like the whole d1 like they was like restricting you know contacting um so it was kind of like difficult not going to get like going against people in that caliber like knowing you know at that camp like that's a you know you go to one of those camps you know you got to be some somewhat good you know and um so that kind of like held back a little bit of the competitiveness i could have went against another competition but besides that i mean i've been just showing coaches by uh they'll ask me to you know do a couple drills and i'll do it for, you know, do a couple drills, and I'll do it for them, you know, outside.

I'll go out in the yard or at a park, go do it for them. Or I would just send them some stuff I have from the camp, honestly. Yeah, makes sense. And so we'll get to that in a little bit, but you ran 11.76 from 100-yard dash. Have you been timed in the 40-yard dash before? Yeah, my fastest in the 40 was this year. I went to a Grandview camp. I ran a 4.6.

I like it. I like it. And as far as the position, I know it's been kind of all over the place, and everything I've read so far basically says you just want to play football. You don't really care where it's at per se, whether that's linebacker, running back, or wherever they have you at. But if you had to pick, what is your favorite position? where it's at per se, whether that's linebacker, running back, wherever they have you at. But if you had to pick, what is your favorite position?

Because I played it for so long, I would have to go with linebacker. All right. But being a running back, I'm not going to lie. But, yeah, it would definitely have to be linebacker. All right. So where is Northern Iowa kind of talking about potentially having you at? I know Iowa started out recruiting you as a linebacker. Where is Northern Iowa talking about potentially having you at? I know Iowa started out recruiting you as a linebacker and also switched over to the running back. Where have they

fit you in at this point at? You and I, they got me as a linebacker. Iowa, they have me as a running back. That's a good thing about being able to play multiple positions. So, I mean, it works out in my favor. Absolutely.

And especially Iowa, they do a really good job of finding the best fit for you and what makes the most sense. Obviously, they switched over Tyler Linderbaum to, you know, center from defensive line, and look how that played out. He's now an All-American and possibly an NFL draft pick. So, what are you looking for in a program right now? What like your ideal culture state that kind of thing for uh for a program uh me personally i don't have a preference i mean i just want to play um obviously you know i want uh to be able to bond with my teammates you know have good bond. So when we're on the field, you know, we have that good chemistry.

But besides that, I can't really ask much from a team because, I mean, at the end of the day, I just want to – okay, I just want to be somewhere that I know that I'll feel fit for me for the next couple of years that I'm there, you know, for until I'm out. But yeah, I don't really have a preference. I love it. So as far as Iowa goes, there's a lot of Iowa based players or Midwest based players on this 2021 recruiting class. Have you talked to any of them at all? No, I have a friend, and you're talking about the players, right? Yep.

Yeah. Um, no, I have a friend that has committed to Iowa. He's in the same class as me. He committed like, uh, last year. Um, I forgot what position he's playing, but, um, I mean, for them, them, I mean, they, they told me, you know, uh, that's a place they've been wanting to be, you know,, they told me, you know, that's a place they've been wanting to be at, you know, just always good things, you know.

And me, for me, my mom always, growing up, my mom always wanted me to go there. You know, we're not Cyclone fans. We're Hawkeye fans over here. I love it. You know, able to, you know, get there, that would just be a good accomplishment, not just for me, just for my family,

because, you know, I'm achieving something for them. Yeah, absolutely. And so what would that offer mean to you? A little bit, a little bit. It would honestly mean the world just because like, coming from where I'm from, I I mean I'm the kid from the north side our team just our team not winning a game and I don't know how long I never won a football game before we've never accomplished anything and for me to be getting this recognition from this high of a caliber school you you know, it's just crazy. And just being like, just being from Des Moines, because, you know, there's a lot of athletes, a lot of great athletes in Des Moines,

and I'm just that one that sticks out. And, you know, obviously I've been getting a lot of hate from it too. You know, he's not even that good. You know, it comes with it. But that's the supporting cast that's with me. They helped me stay in there, you know, and I couldn't ask for nothing more, honestly. This is more for them.

You know, it feels good for me, but it would be great just to give them something, too. Yeah, I mean, it's an example you're setting for all the younger kids as well of what they can do and what they can achieve. Why are people hating on you? Who the hell is hating on you? That's ridiculous. Yeah, you'll be surprised. I mean, a lot of like a lot of schools in the Des Moines area. I mean, because, like, for them, their thing is, like, this kid that comes from North, the team that sucks, you know. That's what it is. How is he getting looked at by this place, this place, you know?

And they're like, why not me? You know, and. So it's jealousy. It's a good. Yeah, I mean, it is honestly a good question because i mean but why why can't it be me though you know that's that's the same thing but i just want to be able to have a chance you know i don't want to be counted out just because you know we just haven't been having this the right success because of past cultural experiences.

I mean, that, that shouldn't reflect me as a, as an athlete. I mean, now I will say COVID did save a lot of teams because if we would have had a full season, we North would have finally won a game. I'm sure you would have won a game. I love it, man. All right. have won a game. But, yeah. I love it, man. All right, so we're going to do two questions. Obviously, I talked to you about it.

If you don't get the offer from Iowa, what are you going to do? I'm assuming you have the opportunity to walk on still. Would you walk on to Iowa or would you go to Northern Iowa where you have that scholarship offer? For me. And if you don't know, you don't need to tell me man i don't i we don't need to do it if you don't know for sure just just want to let you just get that option out there yeah no i yeah i kind of don't know yes i don't know um for me it's always been a financial thing so i don't think i would walk on just because me my family you know it wouldn't be right because we wouldn't be able to pay for it in the long run um so I'd probably look for the other schools I've been offered by just because like and at that standpoint you know

besides you know the offer with Iowa all the other you know, they've given me a lot of money, you know, a lot of money. So it wouldn't be hard picking a school financially then because. But besides that, yeah, I really don't know at that point, but, you know, hopefully I do get the opportunity. Absolutely, man. So if you get that offer, which which i think you will i think we're all hoping for you um you're accepting it right you're going to be an iowa hawkeye that's the day where the celebration will begin that day will i'll be partying for a good uh the whole week so yeah that i'll be committed if I do get the offer. I love it, man. And so, last question for you.

If you are an Iowa Hawkeye, what's your goals? What are your career goals? Where do you see yourself at? I know it's tough, right? You're getting ready for basketball practice, and I'm asking you about what you're doing for your life, right? No, I mean, honestly, I'm not going to short myself. Like, I don't believe in myself so i'm gonna

i'm gonna keep it real with you um in the future i see i think i could do anything in this world honestly i i'm just that confident in myself i think i could do anything i could do all things i think personally um within the next five years or so i will be playing in the in the nfl i love if that doesn't um then that's that's not god's that's not god's gift for me but you know that's me personally i think that's where i will be at but if not if my journey goes a different way then it is what it is but yeah that's what i man. Well, I know you got to go to basketball practice. I don't want to make you late by any means. You don't want to be late and have to run suicides or whatever they call them

these days. But as far as everything goes, Devin, I appreciate you taking the time to talk to me. I hope you know that you are an inspiration to a lot of kids out there about obviously the background and the fact that you are coming from Des Moines North. I'm from Newton, Iowa. So I, no offense to Des Moines North, but it was always the game we were going to win. So I understand, you know, that background and stuff like that, but obviously an inspiration to a lot of people and your story has been

remarkable and we're definitely rooting for you here at the Lockdown Hawkeyes. Obviously any other, anything you want to say before we drop off the show? No, I just, I appreciate you you guys You having me and everything Yeah, this is This is something I'll tell my kids in the future So, I mean, I appreciate it Absolutely, man. Well, have a great day, Devin We'll talk to you later, buddy

Alright, thank you Alright, y'all. I hope you enjoyed this bonus episode of the Locked On Hawkeyes podcast As always, I appreciate Devin Coming on the show. Always appreciate Any commit Any soon-to-be commit of the Locked on Hawkeyes podcast. As always, I appreciate Devin coming on the show. Always appreciate any commit, any soon-to-be commit, that kind of thing, hopping on the show and talking about their experiences with Iowa recruiting.

Obviously really enjoyed the conversation with Devin. Wish him the best at Iowa. We're going to be rooting for you, Devin. And as always, if you love the show, give us that five-star review. Subscribe wherever you downloaded this podcast at. And we'll be back every single weekday, Monday through Friday, this upcoming week. We have a special episode coming out tomorrow as well.

We're looking at getting a former Iowa basketball player on the show. We have time scheduled specifically today to talk with him and talk about his experience, but also talk a little bit about this team. He has an interesting perspective that you're going to find out if we get a chance to interview him. That'll be dropping tomorrow, though, going through this Iowa season, what's upcoming, that kind of thing. And then obviously we have a lot of basketball games this week, so we'll be doing quite a few crossover episodes as well. Stay tuned for more on the Lockdown Hawkeyes podcast. Have a fantastic Sunday, a great end of your weekend, and let's go Hawks.