For the man they call "The Thrill," every day is another chance to try and live up to expectations.
To high school football fans in New Jersey, Will Hill is practically a living legend.
Thousands of fans showed up every Friday night to see him play his senior season at St. Peter's Prep in Jersey City, N.J.
"It was unprecedented from our standpoint," St. Peter's coach Rich Hansen said. "We played on ESPN, we had a book being written about us and we played on TV three other times. There was just constant scrutiny."
Living in the shadow of New York City, Hill received an extraordinary amount of media attention.
"I wouldn't say that it got to me, but it was definitely tough," Hill said. "I guess it's just something that goes along with the territory."
Local Hero
His name is engraved in Tri-City folklore.
Fans remember how Hill rose to the varsity team by playing six games of freshman football without getting tackled.
Some recall how in his very first game on varsity he returned an interception 67 yards for a touchdown.
Others, about how he reversed field eight times before scoring a two-point conversion his junior year.
Even Hansen can't agree on which one of Hill's electrifying plays is his favorite.
"There's a whole highlight reel of them," Hansen said. "It's impossible to just pick one play. He's had too many of them."
Hill catapulted into stardom during the 2005 New Jersey Non-Public, Group 4 state title game.
Unheralded St. Peter's trailed powerhouse Don Bosco Prep 15-0 at halftime before Hill, an up-and-coming sophomore quarterback, rallied the Marauders to an improbable 22-15 victory.
"After the game, coach told me that everything was about to start unfolding for me," Hill said. "He was right."
Binky
While he's known as "The Thrill" by the football-crazed fans of Hudson County, to family and friends he's just Binky.
"I got it from my mom. When I was little, it was the only thing that could keep me quiet," Hill said of his dependence on a pacifier. "It just kind of stuck."
Hill, a chiseled 6-foot-3, 203-pound freak of an athlete, is practically a one-man show.
Dual-threat quarterback, hard-hitting safety and electrifying return man - he really can do it all.
As a senior, he threw for 947 yards and seven touchdowns and rushed for 960 yards and 19 TDs. He also caught two touchdowns.
On defense, Hill racked up 36 solo tackles, two interceptions and broke up three passes. Because St. Peter's would so regularly blow out its opponent, he only played in the fourth quarter of three games all season and was completely held out of another to give a younger player experience.
"If there's such a thing as a total package, he's it," Hansen said. "If he would have played in every quarter of every game, his numbers would have been unbelievable. He would have broken every national record out there."
Many Suitors
It was no surprise when coaches from around the country made the trip to the Garden State to make their sales pitch to the dual-threat athlete.
Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis told Hill that he could play any position on the field for the Fighting Irish. He reminded Miami coach Randy Shannon of former Hurricane Sean Taylor, and then-West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez thought he could be the next Pat White.
"It was kind of annoying to tell you the truth," Hill said. "People were calling me that I didn't really want to deal with. I already knew where I wanted to go."
Hill says that Urban Meyer was different.
"He reminds me of my previous coach," Hill said. "The way he motivates me. His whole personality is just very similar."
By the start of his senior year, he had more than 60 scholarship offers.
Hill took his official visit to UF on Sept.15. and sat in the stands as the Gators dismantled Tennessee 59-20.
"It was crazy," Hill said. "It was so intense. I was in love with it."
Five days later, he committed to UF live on national television from Times Square's ESPN Zone.
"After I committed, I could really focus on school," Hill said. "I didn't have to worry about coaches coming to see me or going anywhere. Everything just slowed down."
While many of today's brightest prep stars make the choice to enroll early and get a head start on their college careers, Hill elected to remain at St. Peter's and finish his senior year.
"It was really my mother's decision," Hill said. "You know how mothers get about (high school) graduation."
Quarterbacks Wear Dresses
Blessed with the ability to glide effortlessly through a field of defenders and deliver bone-crushing hits from the secondary, Hill has the opportunity to succeed regardless of where he plays at the next level.
But the high school senior makes no secret of his intention to play on the defensive side of the ball.
"I want to play safety," Hill said. "I like to hit people."
Hill once famously said that he preferred to play defense because "quarterbacks wear dresses."
With freshman Major Wright looking like he has locked down one of the two starting safety spots, Hill hopes to fill the void left in the UF secondary by the departure of senior Tony Joiner.
But with Hill going to prom instead of spring practice, that feat may be easier said than done.
"We think that he is an outstanding prospect, but every kid that comes here is an outstanding prospect," UF safeties coach Chuck Heater said. "You never quite know how a guy is going to react to the speed of the game until they get here."
When Hill arrives on campus in the fall, he will have to beat out a talented group of veteran players in order to see the field.
Dorian Munroe and Jamar Hornsby have both impressed so far this spring and freshman Ahmad Black has emerged as a dark horse that may be a contender for the starting spot.
"He will have the opportunity to come in, compete and show us what he can do," Heater said. "Hopefully, he will be able to contribute."
Though Hill plans to play safety at UF, there's a chance that you might see him on offense as well.
"He's an athlete that can do a little bit of everything. He plays everywhere and does everything well," UF receivers coach Billy Gonzales said. "If he can come in here and press, then he'll have a chance. Don't rule anything out."
Hill said he hasn't ruled out the possibility of playing offense. When asked about his expectations for next season, he is quick to answer.
"I think we're going all the way to the championship," Hill said. "Without a doubt."
