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BREAKING NEWS: NICK HILL BACK TO NFL TRAINING CAMP

Posted August 26, 2008 11:00 pm

Jeff Profitt

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ Thirty-three days after Nick Hill's fledgling professional career came to a sudden halt, the Du Quoin native is heading back to training camp.

Hill, 23, left at sunrise Wednesday for Indianapolis where he's scheduled to tryout in front of <span id="lw_1219806833_1" class="yshortcuts" style="border-bottom: medium none; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;">coach Tony Dungy and offensive coordinator Tom Moore Thursday.

If all goes well, Hill could be active in Thursday's exhibition finale as the Colts host Cincinnati or signed as a member of the team's practice squad.

Chicago released Hill July 28. He's been back in Du Quoin every since, continuing to workout while volunteering as an assistant coach with the Indians. He's also stayed in daily contact with agent Andy Simms

Recently, Hill began eight weeks of student teaching at Christopher, the last requirement needed to complete a degree in special education.

"Indianapolis has two veteran quarterbacks (Quinn Gray and Jared Lorenzen) who aren't eligible for the practice team," Hill said. "I am trying out along with a few receivers. They tell me I will be the only quarterback there."

<span id="lw_1219806833_8" class="yshortcuts" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;"> Jim Sorgi appears to have again locked up the backup spot in Indy for perennial All-Pro quarterback and 2007 Super Bowl MVP Payton Manning.

Manning hasn't taken a training camp snap yet, recovering from an infection which developed following knee surgery. The Colts activated Manning Tuesday.

Gray and Lorenzen came to Indianapolis as veteran free agents. They have similiar statistics in the three Colt pre-season games. Gray passed for 986 yards and 10 TD with Jacksonville last season and figures to hang on as the third quarterback. Lorenzen starred at Kentucky and is one of pro football's biggest quarterbacks (6'5, 280 lbs.) could be the odd-man out.

"Everyone knew I would put things on hold if another NFL offer came," Hill said. "I want to play in the NFL and this looks like it could be a good opportunity."

Hill knows both Payton and Eli Manning well, earning invitations to their summer camp while playing for Southern Illinois University. He also will reunite with Saluki teammate Darren Marquez.

Like Hill, Marquez is a rookie free agent. On the latest Colts depth chart, Marquez was listed as the third string right offensive tackle.

"This all happened pretty quick," Hill said about the Indianapolis offer while working his final shift in the Du Quoin State Fair's media room.

After a record-setting two years as SIU's starting quarterback, Hill signed a free agent deal with Chicago as the April 28 NFL Draft ended.

Despite participating in all OTA's (Organized Training Activities) with the Bears, Hill was cut about 10 days prior to the start of exhibition play

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