Sophomore wideout Eugene Hilton Jr. ready for breakout second year

MADISON, Wis.— It was an eventful offseason for Wisconsin sophomore wide receiver Eugene Hilton Jr. After entering the transfer portal, Hilton returned to the Badgers’ program, flashed often in spring ball, before fully emerging as one of the top pass-catching options for Colton Joseph and Wisconsin during fall camp. 

“I think it started in the winter. I think of his dedication to even challenging and changing some of the things that he does. I mean, he’s a gifted guy, but like, you know, his ability to get stronger, his ability to get faster, you know, we’ve seen a growth in him from the winter, moving forward. 
And, you know, we saw a little bit in the spring. I don’t know that I would say we had seen the consistency in the spring, but we saw some flashes that were really, really good, and through this fall camp, we’ve seen a hell of a lot more consistency,” Luke Fickell said early on in fall camp. 

“And if there’s one guy that, you know, I could point to in the first seven or so practices that you say, “Hey, he has made plays every single day, it has been Gene. And so we’re gonna keep pushing, keep grinding. We all have some areas.” 

With plenty of new faces, a few returners, a new top passer and a new position coach in the WR room, there are snaps to be had. And with Hilton sure to be in that mix, Badger247 spoke with him one-on-one this week in Madison. 

To start the season like this, at historic Lambeau Field against a top five team in the nation, what is this opportunity like for you and your team?

“I mean, it’s a great opportunity. That’s kind of how I want to look at it, but, I mean, it’s always been my dream to play at a neutral site. You know, just being in college or even in high school, just going to the state championship, just, you don’t get that type of opportunity too many times, and I think it’s just, it’s a blessing that I obviously get to do it. Here, at Green Bay, which is a very historical stadium.”

The team was able to take a tour to see Lambeau this summer. Had you been there before, and what were some of your impressions this time?

“Yeah, it was great. It was a beautiful stadium. That was my first time ever being at Lambeau, and man, it was cool, a great environment and everything like that. And I just, I can’t wait for the fans to pack it up.”

I’ve been fortunate to have interviewed you since your high school recruitment, and I know that end goals include making it to the NFL. Notre Dame has many projected pros. 

What stands out about this defense, and the challenges that Leonard Moore could present as well for the passing game and offense?

“Oh, I mean, it’s a great defense. You know, they’re obviously a great team being ranked top five. But honestly, at the end of the day, I keep things simple. You know, they’re gonna run a lot of man to man, and basically me versus you and they’re gonna pick themselves every time. 

So again, just when you have those types of opportunities, you just want to go make the most of it. So there’s not really much to be said, but, we’ll see September 6th.”

Your game appeared to take a pretty big leap from spring to fall, both in the eye test, as well as some of the commentary from coaches. How did you feel your respective skillset and production grew in fall camp?

“I think I always just put the work in. I think, the coaches started to see it a little bit more, and then they started to give me even more opportunities and more opportunities and more opportunities. And with those opportunities, I’ve always been taught to just make the most of it, and I think I’ve seized almost every moment so far, and I think I’m just proud and just trying to make my family proud. 

And it’s honestly a blessing the position I’m in and I just can’t wait to take off with it.”

Obviously you have a new wideouts coach this year in Ari Confesor. How has that relationship grown, and how has he challenged your skill set since being here?

“It’s been a great relationship, and I think he’s just a coach that pushes me every day to be the best person I am and be the best athlete I am. And, it’s always fun just joking around with him and just kind of him bringing out the best of not just me, but everybody in that receiver room and just one of the best for us. I think he’s a great coach.

I love his drills and I love the energy and intensity that he brings every day. So I couldn’t be more pleased with the coach that we brought in.”

It seemed like you and Colton Joseph opened camp strongly together, with great budding chemistry. How have you seen that chemistry grow since he arrived here until now?

“It’s been great. Not just being, oh, he’s a great quarterback, but I think I’ve really started to learn who he is as a person. And I think that obviously helps tremendously with just the trust aspect, because, again, he is a great quarterback. 

He is going to give us chances, but just knowing that I can be the person that he counts on on those third downs or even first down, like, if we’re going to take a shot at something like that, just knowing that I can be someone he can count on and just the trust they’re going back and forth, and I think just knowing each other and even working after practice and stuff like that, I think that that goes a longer way than just, you know, two guys going out there.”

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