'I did it, Mom:' Inside K.D. Hill's emotional response to Ole Miss' Chucky Mullins award

OXFORD − Ole Miss defensive tackle K.D. Hill stood stoically in his shoulder pads, clutching a cell phone in his gloved right hand.

At the end of practice on Aug. 31, the fifth-year senior from Eufala, Alabama was honored with Ole Miss football's annual Chucky Mullins Courage Award, given to the upperclassman defender who best exemplifies Mullins' legacy. After winning the award, Hill called his mother to share his good news, choking back tears as he told her 'I did it mom" and "I'm going to wear it with pride.

"She was crying," Hill remembered almost a week later. "She was super excited. It’s been a ride. I’m just so thankful."

Hill said winning the Chucky Mullins Award and getting to wear Mullins' No. 38 has been a goal of his since he got to campus in 2018. Hill first learned about Mullins' story when he took his first visit to Oxford as a recruit and vowed to himself that he'd win the award someday. Five seasons later, Hill is a three-year starter at nose tackle who has the thankless job of absorbing double- and triple-team blocks to free up lanes for the linebackers behind him who earn all the accolades.

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He credits his growth and success to the work he puts in when the fans, coaches and teammates aren't watching. Qualities like that are why Hill said he never considered putting his name in the transfer portal after two years spent mostly on the bench or playing for three defensive coordinators in three seasons.

They're also why Rebels coach Lane Kiffin thinks so highly of Hill.

"He’s just awesome," Kiffin said. "He’s got a job whenever he’s done playing some day. I just love having him around. He’s an amazing kid and an amazing story."

On his call with his mom, Hill repeated the phrase "I've got some more to accomplish." Hill has one more season of eligibility after this one, so his Ole Miss journey doesn't have to end this fall. But if he does round out his career wearing Mullins' No. 38, that's a huge accomplishment in its own right.

I know everything I’ve been through, it was for a reason," Hill said. "It was just very emotional because my mom was part of that process as well and she trusted in me when no one else did."

Contact Nick Suss at nsuss@gannett.com. Follow Nick on Twitter @nicksuss.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Why Ole Miss' K.D. Hill cried after winning Chucky Mullins Award