Colts T.Y. Hilton Taking Off in 3rd Season
Dec 7, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Indianapolis Colts wide receiver T.Y. Hilton (13) celebrates with guard Jack Mewhort (75) after scoring the game winning touchdown against the Cleveland Browns during the fourth quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Cots won 25-24. Mandatory Credit: Ron Schwane-USA TODAY Sports
The Indianapolis Colts T.Y. Hilton has catapulted himself into the conversation among the NFL’s best wide receivers. As the Colts’ 2012 3rd round draft pick out of unheralded Florida International, Hilton has really caught fire this season.
In the NFL, it’s a general rule of thumb that wide receivers typically take off in their 3rd NFL season, and Hilton has done just that for the Colts. Through 14 weeks, he is currently 3rd in most receiving yards with 1,295 yards.
While the supporting cast around him has fluctuated as of late because of injuries, Hilton has been the one constant in the receiving game for 3rd-year quarterback Andrew Luck. Together, they have formed one of the most formidable Quarterback-Wide receiver combinations in the NFL. With Luck throwing tight spirals, Hilton has 78 receptions on the season, which is tied for 7th in the NFL among wideouts. The dynamic duo has hooked up for 7 touchdowns (12th) on the season in total. A pretty impressive feat for a couple of 3rd-year NFL players.
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The 5’9″, 183 pound, Hilton may not look physically imposing. However, he’s nicknamed “The Ghost” for a reason. He’s incredibly elusive and explosive in space, and if opposing secondary’s give him a crack of daylight, he’ll make their defenders pay.
For longtime Colts’ fans, it’s easy to see the comparisons that Hilton draws to former legendary Colts’ wide receiver and soon-to-be future Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison. Diminutive himself at 6’0″, 185 lbs, Harrison had much of the same skill-set as Hilton. Make no mistake about it though, like Hilton, Harrison could flat out ball. The 13-year veteran parlayed that into a distinguished receiving career that in-all featured 1,102 receptions for 14,580 receiving yards and 128 touchdowns, all with the Colts.
If his 1st 3 seasons-to-date are any indication, T.Y. Hilton is well on his way to a future trip to Canton, Ohio himself:
The Colts sure hope so, as a big part of their future Super Bowl Championship aspirations rest on the playmaking ability of Hilton. Specifically this season, the Colts will need Hilton to continue his torrid pace if they wish to beat perennial AFC heavyweights in Peyton Manning’s Denver Broncos and Tom Brady’s New England Patriots respectively: