CEDAR PARK — If one play illustrates Trae Hill's legacy at Cedar Park, it happened during the District 8-5A DI championship game against Georgetown in early November.
Just a few seconds remained until halftime, and Cedar Park needed 24 yards to reach the end zone. The Timberwolves trailed 30-22. With steely eyes and a voice that could be heard throughout the county, Hill told his teammates that they would score on the following play. Then he demanded the football.
Sure enough, Hill took a short swing pass, collided with a would-be Georgetown tackler around the 10-yard line, and dragged three Eagles forward before falling on the pylon for a touchdown. With the 2-point conversion, the rejuvenated Wolves tied the game 30-30. That was the momentum-shifting play of a 60-52 victory for the new district champions.
"I still get chills thinking about it," Hill said from a secluded Cedar Park locker room last week.
Hill, this past season's Central Texas offensive player of the year, was a chill-a-minute running back during his three seasons on varsity. As a senior, he led Central Texas with 2,300 rushing yards and 34 touchdowns. He pairs with Lake Travis defensive end Carter Buck, who was named Central Texas defensive player of the year, to lead this year's All-Central Texas team, honoring 76 players across 23 teams.
Hill was a model of consistency, averaging 192 rushing yards a game. That included seven 200-yard games in his 12-game season and 11 games with more than 100. With thick legs and broad shoulders, most of Hill's yards came after first contact, Timberwolves coach Michael Quintero said. The coach often told Hill to "tone it down" in practice because he had a habit of hurting defensive players.
"Trae played in games the same way he practiced," Quintero said.
Hill burst upon the local high school scene as a sophomore, earning Central Texas newcomer of the year honors in 2023 after rushing for 1,428 yards and 20 touchdowns. But with high expectations as a junior, his world seemingly collapsed with a turf toe injury in the third game of the 2024 season. He broke a bone in his left big toe and tore ligaments in his foot. He felt "excruciating pain" while doing daily rehabilitation and wasn't cleared to play again until the eve of his senior season in August.
About his injury, Trae said a "blessing came in disguise" because he leaned more on his faith. It lit a burning fire in his belly to get back.
"Before the season, Trae came up to me and said he had a 'personal goal' that he planned to break," Quintero said.
What was the goal?
"Two-thousand yards," Quintero said.
Growing up on the gridiron
Trae Samuel Frost Hill was introduced to competitive football when he joined the Leander Lions of the Cedar Park Youth Football Association while in the third grade. He was a fast but undersized running back who had a genuine fear of getting hurt. His mother said it took about a year for him to gain confidence and accept that football is not for the faint of heart.
"After that first season, he became hooked," Jessica Hill said. "We have photos of him with panic in his face."
Trae said it took one play — a kickoff return for a touchdown against a team from Dripping Springs — to build self-confidence. He said that touchdown was "my awakening."
By the time Hill enrolled in Cedar Park Middle School, he was beginning to develop into the player he has become. He developed a work ethic that impressed is mother and his future high school coach.
"Trae was so skinny, we were never sure if he was ever going to grow," Jessica Hill said. "But he also took the utmost interest in bettering himself. He ate the right foods, went to the gym, developed good sleeping habits, locked himself in. At every level he was always the hardest worker in the room. I might be biased, but I can say he's very focused. He reads the Bible daily and goes to church every week."
Quintero said he noticed something about Hill when he scouted Hill's eighth grade team in the fall of 2021.
"He was different," the coach said. "The way he carried himself, the way he carried the football. He had so much confidence. That became very evident after he finished ninth grade and started spring football. We had a segment in practice for Trae to run the ball against our No. 1 defense. When he was handed the ball, it was like he wanted to find someone to run over.
"When he'd finish the run he yelled to everybody, 'Don't take it easy on me because I won't do that for you. Make me better.'"
Someone who has made Hill better is Storm Woods, a former All-Central Texas running back who went on to rush for 2,674 yards and 25 touchdowns at Oregon State (2012-15). Woods has created a group called Theathelight, which trains young athletes to better themselves on and off the field. Woods was the offensive coordinator for the Hendrickson freshman team when he spotted Hill for the first time.
Hill refers to Woods as his "second father."
Hill often was part of a group that worked together under Woods' mentorship. It didn't take long for Woods to work one-on-one with Hill because the group session was "holding him back." Hill's work ethic was far superior to others Woods has trained.
"Not a lot of kids have actions that match their plan," Wood said. "Trae's action-oriented and obsessive about his work. I'm shocked he hasn't signed (with a college team). When he signs, someone is going to get a steal. ... He's college-ready."
Trae Hill's next step is unknown
Despite Hill's amazing sophomore and senior seasons, he remains available for any college team that wants to take him. He does have a handful of offers — most notably Air Force, UTEP and UTSA — but is open to others who might find interest in him. Hill believes the lack of interest stems from the injury that pretty much wiped out his junior season. He correctly pointed out that college scouts show most interest in high school players during their junior seasons.
The NCAA's transfer portal might be another reason Hill has seen more recruiters on his doorstep. Instead of looking for rising high school stars such as Hill to fill their lineups, college coaches are dipping into the portal to fill instant needs, which can have consequences for high school seniors wanting to play on the next level, Woods said.
In the meantime, Hill is confident all will work out for the best. He knew he needed a remarkable senior season to get on the college radar again. That's why he told his coach he would rush for 2,000 yards.
"I wanted to prove that I belong (in college)," said Hill, who plans to choose a school before national signing day Feb. 4.
No matter what happens next, Hill said he'll never forget his senior season. He got to play with his younger brother, Cash, Cedar Park's starting center and a budding wrestling star. The Timberwolves had a fine 8-4 season and went two rounds into the playoffs. Last month he started to teach himself how to play an acoustic guitar, although he has no plans of joining a rock-0and-roll band anytime soon.
"I know my son's mindset and work ethic," Jessica Hill said. "He's destined for greatness."
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