49ers held pre-draft meeting with Pittsburgh S Brandon Hill

Hill registered 67 tackles, 0.5 tackles for a loss, and two passes defensed through 12 game appearances as a senior in 2022, per Sports Reference. He recorded 162 tackles, 1.5 tackles for a loss, eight passes defensed, three interceptions, a touchdown, and three forced fumbles through his three collegiate seasons.

“I’ve always played with a chip on my shoulder,” Hill said. “I’m always willing to play aggressive and attack offensive players. I’m always looking to make a big play, a game-changing play.

“You have to be a little crazy to play on the defensive side of the ball (laughs). I love it. I’m always willing and ready to initiate contact. You have to be willing to stick your head in there. I have that defensive mindset. I’ve been playing defense my entire life. I have that dog in me. I play with an edge. I’m always going to do what I can to help the team win. I bring that spark and energy.”

Hill is from Apopka, FL. He earned a pre-draft grade of 5.92 from NFL.com, which equates to an “average backup or special-teams player,” per the site’s 8-point grading scale.

At the NFL Scouting Combine, the 5′ 10″ and 193-pound Hill had a 40-time of 4.43 seconds, a vertical jump of 35.5 inches, a broad jump of 123 inches, and 15 reps in the bench press. His other measurables include an arm length of 30 3/4 inches and hands measuring 9 1/2 inches.

The Draft Network wrote the following about Hill in its scouting report:

A two-year starter for Pittsburgh at safety, Brandon Hill became a fixture in the Panthers’ secondary after a standout prep career in Florida in which he played safety and running back for Wekiva High and claimed back-to-back district championships.

Hill is an instinctive and physical defender with excellent range. I love his ability to diagnose, trigger, and play downhill from deep alignments and provide an asset as a run defender and driving forward to make tackles on quick passes. Hill is an aggressive tackler that is assertive playing off contact and getting involved. He has good contact balance and hitting power.

In pass coverage, Hill’s range shines. He can cover plenty of ground with the athleticism necessary to serve in man coverage. His blend of processing skills, range, and physicality positions him well to provide value in a number of roles in the secondary. Hill has a natural feel for pass coverage where his ability to read the backfield, squeeze routes, and space the field is strong. Serving as the “boundary safety” for Pitt, Hill didn’t get many chances to make plays on the ball but he flashed the ability to make well-timed breaks on the football and be disruptive at the catch point.