Althoff football star says ‘I’m ready’ for the limelight with the Oregon Ducks
On a gray, cold, drizzly day outside Althoff Catholic High School Wednesday afternoon, Dierre Hill Jr. inside talked about a future that, when visualized, looked like a big rainbow – with a primary color of green.
From the lush grasses around the campus of the University of Oregon to the predominant color of the football team’s uniform and to one other thing – money – Hill will see plenty of the color starting this fall as a top recruit with the powerhouse Division 1 Ducks football program.
Hill, 18, used the word “blessed” a lot in a sit-down interview with the Belleville News-Democrat, and why not? Not only is he one of the most heavily recruited high school football players in recent Illinois history, not only does he come from a loving, two-parent household that stuck together through some lean times, but he also was lucky enough to come of age as a top recruit when they can make some real money before college even starts.
Not only can top football programs disburse as much as $18 million to $20 million per year now, as they see fit, to current athletes, but top college players can make as much money as they can get on sales of their name, image, and likeness before turning pro.
Hill still has a lot to prove. He hasn’t played a down yet for the Ducks as a running back. And while not divulging specifics of any financial arrangement with Oregon, the two-time Gatorade Player of the Year in Illinois acknowledged that money already has been one of the fringe benefits of signing as a Duck.
“That’s a huge blessing as well, obviously, to have that money going into college. Just, to have it, you know?” said Hill, who ran for 438 yards in Althoff’s Class 1A 57-14 championship win over Lena-Winslow in November, the Belleville school’s first state title since 1990. “But that’s not really the main focus of it. You don’t really want to get too carried away, to get big-headed and worry too much about the money. That just comes with it. For me, I’ll still just stick with school and football, but make sure my head’s straight with my money. I have my mother and my financial advisor. I will make sure I’m good with that aspect of it.”
Revenue-sharing money for college athletes
Since 2021, when the NCAA began allowing NIL deals for athletes, and when a lawsuit was settled in 2023 whereby top college athletic programs have a “salary cap” of $20 million to disburse every year on selected athletes as part of a revenue-sharing program, the game of college recruiting has entirely changed. Most colleges can’t come close to paying $20 million a year for their most prized recruits and other existing players. But the very biggest money-making college programs can.
Oregon is one of the schools that can, at least for football (where 85 percent of revenues for college athletics are derived, according to a recent Sports Illustrated analysis based on the share of revenue from existing television contracts).
While no specifics were provided, it’s likely that Hill will receive revenue-sharing money into the six figures just to attend Oregon. For Althoff running backs coach Byron Gettis, who said Hill is the best player he’s ever coached to this point, money and the “professionalization” of college sports is a small factor, but likely to become a larger one, in how high school teams will be assembled in the future.
“In this college football era, if that’s not enough incentive for you to get your mind right in the classroom, to train and all that. … I mean, it’s a billion-dollar industry,” Gettis said.
But Gettis praised Hill for never asking him anything about money. Only, how to get better as a football player.
“To see him every day in practice, and to elevate everybody, was amazing to see,” Gettis said. “He’s reaping the benefits of all his hard work. He’s a special young man.”
Hill, who is 6-1 and weighs 190 pounds, transferred to Althoff Catholic from Vashon High in St. Louis prior to his junior year, a decision he called “momentous” in his development. He credits his Althoff head coach, Austin Frazier, and his parents, Whitney and Dierre Sr., along with his grandmother, Moneta, for a smooth adjustment.
“My parents were everything in why I’m here. But it takes a village. My ‘granny’ (Moneta) took me in. A lot of people don’t know, but my parents had me at a very young age. My mom was young, so my grandma took me in as well,” Hill said. “I’m blessed for that.”
For all the humble words Hill has about his current situation and his upbringing, he has brash confidence about his future. Especially, for those who want to toss shade at him as a player who came from a small school, who competed against smaller-time athletes.
“Which is what I’m hungry for, which a lot of people don’t know about me. I will get to actually show them in college what I’m about,” Hill said. “I’m ready for that. I’m eager for that. That’s all that I’ve been waiting for. This is my calling. I believe that’s the calling that God has put out for me. I’m going to show everybody. I’m ready. I’m ready, I promise.”
