Kit Hillis

Huskies wide receiver Kit Hillis only made five receptions for 66 yards in four games last season. This year he is the top receiver in the Canada West conference.

The Saskatoon product accumulated 38 catches, six touchdowns and 545 receiving yards in four games this season, and currently sits atop all three major receiving categories in the conference despite having been sidelined with a strained quadriceps tendon during the Dogs last game against Calgary.

Hillis credits a big part of his success to the motivation he draws from the crowd, especially at Griffiths Stadium.

“It never gets old running out from under the dog and seeing a big home crowd. It makes a hard week of practice all worth it in that single moment,” Hillis said. “Away games are different. It’s fun to put up points in front of an opposing crowd.”

When Hillis isn’t scoring points on the field he likes to put up points on the TV screen playing video games. Hillis says that he and the other receivers will often get together to challenge each other’s remote-controlled football skills.

“I like Madden [NFL games], but I usually get beat by the other football guys. I do better at shooter games like Call of Duty and Halo.”

“Upstairs [in the football clubhouse] we have some TV’s and consoles we can play on so when we’re not studying or watching game film usually some guys are up there playing games.”

Hillis excels in the classroom too and will complete a commerce degree from Edwards School of Business in the spring. His convocation won’t mark the end of Hillis’s time at the U of S though. With another two years of Canadian university sport eligibility remaining, the receiver plans to return to school to keep playing football.

“I plan on coming back, but I have to figure out what I’d like to pursue for my second degree. I’ve thought about entering into either education or possibly law.”

Hillis admits his one bad habit as an athlete is eating too much unhealthy food.

“I can never turn down McDonald’s. That junior chicken and double bacon cheeseburger are delicious,” Hillis said. “My main vice, however, is that I crush a lot of Babybel cheese and pepperoni sticks. It’s sort of my standard snack.”

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Photo: Raisa Pezderic/The Sheaf