Nikhai Hill-Green talks official visit to Arkansas

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas hosted Charlotte linebacker Nikhai Hill-Green for an official visit on Thursday.

Hill-Green, 6-2, 232, formerly played two years for Michigan before heading to Charlotte for a season. Following the visit to Arkansas, Hill-Green talked about how it went.

“It went well, Coach (Sam) Pittman and coach T Will (Travis Williams) I love the staff in the building,” Hill-Green said. “I love how they treat one another. I can feel the chemistry and the love within the people in the building. I loved it, it blew me away.”

Hill-Green also detailed more on his visit to Arkansas.

“I just love the interest and the interest is mutual,” Hill-Green said. “Coach Pittman, T Will, the whole staff is super welcoming. I like it here and it’s eye-opening to just learn new things about the place and about the people. The interest is mutual so that’s why I came to visit.”

Hill-Green talked more on why he chose to use one of his visits to Arkansas.

“Just the need at the linebacker position and how they can grow my game,” Hill-Green said. “The platform to play in the SEC and playing against other NFL prospects every Saturday. Just the opportunity with the education I’ll get here, the players I’ll play with and building something great here at Arkansas.”

The visit to Arkansas was his first, but won’t be his last.

“I’m visiting a couple of SECs, maybe a couple of Big 12s, maybe some ACC schools,” Hill-Green said. “I’m not….nothing in stone yet so I don’t want to say if I’m not sure.”

Hill-Green admitted the visit was a very good one and helped Arkansas’ chances for him.

“Oh, it’s high,” Hill-Green said. “It’s high, Arkansas is my leader right now. They need a linebacker with my pedigree to come in and play. They have experience everywhere else in every other room. The team is complete but they need a linebacker so I’m really high on Arkansas.”

Williams is his lead recruiter and would be his position coach at Arkansas.

“I love his knowledge of the game,” Hill-Green said. “Him being the linebacker coach and the defensive coordinator is a big deal to me just because he sees me as a piece of his whole puzzle. He wants to make sure that I’m making a lot of plays and he’s featuring me in the defense a lot. I love T Will and the energy he brings. I would love to work with him.”

Jake Trump is Williams’ assistant with the linebackers and also has impressed Hill-Green.

“I love the way he approaches football and his he treats everyone around the building and how he can conducts his business,” Hill-Green said. “The coaching staff, the knowledge of football that they have, the collection of all the places they’ve been and all the experience and all the years they been coaching it’s valuable and I feel like they can all pour into me and make me better.”

One thing Hill-Green noticed on the visit is the love for Arkansas football around the area.

“How much people care about Arkansas football,” Hill-Green said. “This is my first time being in Arkansas and there’s really no sports teams like the Razorbacks are the big guys on campus and everyone loves the Razorbacks. So how important it is to everyone here that’s what I noticed. That’s been huge and I love it.”

Hill-Green was asked about his timeline for a decision?

“I don’t have a particular time but as soon as I know for sure I’m going to make that decision and I’m going to be enrolled as soon as possible,” Hill-Green said.

In 2023, Hill-Green had 73 tackles, 48 solo, nine for loss, two sacks, three pass breakups and a forced fumble. He started six games in two years at Michigan.