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Zach Smith says former Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema attempted to cancel K.J. Hill’s visit to Ohio State
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Former Ohio State wide receivers coach Zach Smith has singled out a former B1G and SEC head coach in his latest podcast episode of Menace 2 Society.
In Smith’s latest podcast episode, he explains a recruiting battle with Arkansas and head coach Bret Bielema over highly-touted receiver K.J. Hill in 2015. Hill, an Arkansas native, had previously committed to the Razorbacks before reopening his recruitment.
Smith explains that Bielema made a phone call to then-Ohio State assistant Chris Ash, leaving a “bizarre” voicemail in regards to Hill’s visit to Columbus.
“K.J. Hill is coming [to Ohio State] on an official visit,” Smith said on the podcast. “It’s the Monday before his official visit starts that Friday. Chris Ash comes into my office and says, ‘Hey, listen to this. This is bizarre.’ He has a voicemail from Bret Bielema saying, ‘Hey Chris, this is Bret. Just wanted to let you know that K.J. is going to cancel his official this weekend. I just wanted to apologize but he’s not going to come.’
“Chris looked at me and I looked at him and we were both puzzled. I’d never heard of that. Kids cancel visits all of the time, but the head coach of the school that’s recruiting [against] you calls up? Huh?”
That move from Bielema apparently upset Hill and his family, and ultimately cost Arkansas a chance at landing the talented receiver.
“People in Arkansas wonder how they lost K.J. Hill. That’s why,” Smith said. “Along with everything else that went on. We got K.J. and his dad on the phone. They were irate, pissed at Arkansas. So he came on his visit and basically he was done with Arkansas. That would have been like Urban calling Nick Saban and saying, ‘Hey, Zeke Elliott is not going to come on his visit this weekend.’”
Hill’s presence at Ohio State has worked out pretty well for both sides. In three seasons with the Buckeyes, Hill has totaled 1,676 yards and 10 touchdowns on 142 receptions. Last season, he was the Buckeyes’ second-leading receiver with 865 yards and six touchdowns.
Bielema could’ve really used Hill on his team while at Arkansas. In his five years with the Razorbacks, he was 29-34 with an 11-29 record in SEC play and three bowl appearances. before being fired after the 2017 season.
Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB