Hillis Prepared for Biggest Play of His Life at Young Age
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Back in the early 2000s I was supplementing a paltry journalism income by working at a Smoothie King in Conway that had just opened across the street from Conway High School.
We developed loyal customers fairly quickly and the owner's daughter developed a knack at making sure she knew each by name.
One particular mass of a man kept coming in ordering "Hulks" every afternoon, and I was sure he must be a football player playing for Clint Conque over at UCA that I didn't know. One afternoon the man came in while the owner's daughter was there so I asked if she knew who he was.
To my surprise, she said this walking mountain of muscle wasn't a man. He was a high school kid at Conway named Peyton something, and to make things more shocking, she was pretty sure he was a sophomore on the football team.
Peyton "something" was actually Peyton Hillis before he became THE Peyton Hillis, Arkansas Razorback star and future Madden cover art during his NFL playing days.
Little did I know that the young man who was chugging Hulks to bulk up all those years ago was actually preparing for the day where his star would shine brightest.
Hillis was reportedly taking family time to swim in the Gulf of Mexico in the Pensacola area in Florida when his children started struggling in the water. The former Razorback fullback dove into the water, determined to do whatever it took to save his children's lives.
That included giving his own if needed.
While he was successful, his children are safe thanks to his heroic actions, the effort took an extreme toll on his body.
Hillis had to reportedly be taken to an area hospital by helicopter where he was fighting for his life. Fortunately, according to a social media post by his uncle, Greg Hillis, Peyton appears to be on the path to recovery.
At last report, Hillis is considered in critical condition.
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