K.D. Hill Opens Up on Why the Chucky Mullins Award Means So Much to Him
OXFORD, Miss. – K.D. Hill is what is known as an old-school football player. The Ole Miss senior defensive lineman has a drive, a work ethic and most importantly, he has goals.
One of those goals was achieved the week before the season opener against Troy. The Eufaula, Ala., native earned the Chucky Mullins Courage Award. Hill will be wearing Mullins’ number 38 this season for the Rebels.
The award, named for the Ole Miss defensive back who was tragically injured in a 1989 game against Vanderbilt, goes to the player who exhibits the traits Mullins, also an Alabama native, showed before and after his injury.
Earning the award was a goal Hill set early in his time at Ole Miss.
“It was truly a blessing to be able to wear that number, an honor and a privilege,” Hill said after Tuesday’s practice.
“It’s something I’ve been working towards since I was a freshman here. The first time I visited here I learned about this number and always told myself I would get it and that’s just determination and perseverance because it hasn’t been easy on my journey here and I thank God for everything He’s thrown at me because it only made me stronger.”
K.D. Hill on being named Chucky Mullins Courage award winner
Hill was informed of his honor after practice prior to the first game. Before even getting to the locker room, he called his mother to let her know the news.
The call was emotional for mother and son.
This is what 3⃣8⃣ is all about.@Grindkd_55 | #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/8zyCdgZG1c
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) August 31, 2022
“Once again, like I said, my journey has been ups and downs and I know the work I’ve put in when no one was watching and I know everything I’ve been through, it was for a reason,” Hill said. “And it was very emotional because my mom was a part of that process as well and she trusted in me when no one else did.”
The video of the call was from Hill’s side. He described the other end to the media Tuesday.
“She was crying. She was super excited; it’s been a ride and I am just so thankful.”
K.D. Hill on how his mom reacted to hearing he won the Mullins Award
His mom also must’ve been excited last Saturday. In his first game wearing number 38, against a school located just a couple hours away from his home, Hill led the Ole Miss defense in holding Troy to just 60 yards rushing, and the Trojans could not find the end zone until midway through the fourth quarter.
That result was a byproduct of how Hill has approached his Ole Miss career.
“Just trust the process, you have to trust the process. It’s not on your time, it’s on God’s timing and He’s always on time and when He’s on time, He shows up.”
K.D. Hill
It is coincidental Hill kept referring to time.
After Mullins was injured and was in a Memphis hospital, he was taken by ambulance to the Ole Miss locker room as the Rebels later prepared to play Air Force in the Liberty Bowl. That night, Mullins worked to get a simple message out to his teammates before they took the field for the game.
“It’s time,” Mullins uttered.
That was the kind of dedication and determination Mullins possessed. Those are some of the traits Hill personifies.
As the Rebels get ready to host Central Arkansas Saturday in Oxford, Hill wears that number 38 with pride, and he knows how he wants to perform in his last season as a player at Ole Miss.
It’s time.
Now that is old school. Just like Hill and Mullins.
(Photo credit: Josh McCoy, Ole Miss)
Steve Barnes
Steve Barnes joins The Rebel Walk staff as a senior writer and brings a trifecta of journalistic experience. As a writer, he has covered college sports for Rivals.com, Football.com and SaturdayDownSouth.com as well as served as a beat writer for various traditional newspapers.
He has been a broadcaster for arena football and several national tournament events for the National Junior College Athletic Association as well as hosting various shows on radio.
A former sports information director at Albany (Ga.) State University and an assistant at Troy and West Florida, he has helped host many NCAA conference, regional and national events, including serving five years on the media committee of the NCAA Division II World Series.
Barnes, a native of Pensacola, Fla., attended Ole Miss in 1983-84, where his first journalism teacher was David Kellum. The duo has come a long way since that time.
He will bring a proven journalistic track record, along with a knack for finding the out-of-the-ordinary story angles to The Rebel Walk.
Barnes continues to reside in Pensacola a mere ten minutes from the beach because he does have taste and a brain.
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