Jordan Hill preps to close out rookie season with the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLVIII

NEWARK, N.J. Since entering the National Football League in April, former Steelton and Penn State standout Jordan Hill has adapted to life as a rookie. Long gone are the days of trekking through a snow-covered Happy Valley en route to classes or the football building. That part of his daily routine has since been replaced with a new landscape to observe in Seattle, coupled with meetings, film study and more meetings.

The Seattle Seahawks selected Hill in the third round of the NFL Draft and due to injuries and a stout group of defensive linemen ahead of him, this season has been as much of a learning experience as any. In Seattles final preseason game the young defensive tackle sustained a partially torn left biceps tendon that resulted in him missing six games. After that it was an injured right arm that set him back yet again.

Thats been the hardest thing, Hill said during Tuesdays Super Bowl Media Day. Just working through the injuries because Ive never really gone through anything like that, especially upper body. I havent had any problems like that and just trying to wrap my head around it that Ill be back.

Watching from the sidelines it was hard at first to swallow, but I understand that Ive got to get healthy.

Hill wasnt active for the teams NFC Championship Game against San Francisco and the result of his rookie season thus far is seven tackles and 1.5 sacks. But through it all the 6-foot-1, 303-pound lineman continues to learn and better understand what it means to be in the league and just how difficult it is for a team to have a shot at winning the Super Bowl.

The thought of having a chance to win a ring after being in the league for nearly 10 months is something Hill cant help but crack a smile when asked about. The Super Bowl experience thus far has been more than he said he ever imagined.

Its been crazy, he said. Just the type of support weve had just from New York and New Jersey people cheering for us and coming up and just wanting to know who we are and what were about and what team we play for. I think theyre more excited just to be representing the Super Bowl.

When we left Seattle there were at least like thousands of fans lined up on the streets and the highway just going to the airport. It was crazy.

Sunday evening at MetLife Stadium Hills parents and two sisters will all have a chance to see him and the Seattle Seahawks compete against the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII. Living across the country from most of his family and friends forced Hill to forge a new identity for himself, one where he continues to focus on the game thats gotten him thus far while acclimating to a new city hes learned to love. Add in new teammates who like to joke with the easygoing Hill and charge him with a meal every now and then and the 22-year-old is as content as ever.

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Jordan Hill preps to close out rookie season with the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLVIII