STEELTON -- He may be the largest lineman in college football, but Lloyd Hill's heart, skill and personality are even bigger.
Hill, a redshirt junior at St. Francis University in Loretto, Pa., weighs 401 pounds and says he always been big.
But he was also a star player in both football and basketball at Steel-High High School. Hill admits not everyone was nice to him then; some opposing fans used to tease him about his size.
"Even in college, we go to these bigger schools, they're right next to you on your neck and they're breathing down it," said Hill. "They say some harsh things; but I just let it go in one ear and out the other; just focus on the task at hand."
That's Lloyd, though -- truly bigger than everyone else.
His real strength doesn't come from lifting weights. It comes from inside him. He's comfortable in his own skin.
"He don't care what anybody says about him," said his cousin Jordan Hill, a top defensive lineman at Penn State and an ex-high school teammate. "He's still going to be the same person."
A person who's embraced the nickname "Big Cat" because, well, he's pretty quick for his size.
He's someone who may not finish first in a race; but will always finish.
A person who was last down the court, yet would later stun defenders with his dazzling post moves.
"And everybody who had anything to say, I'd say, 'You play him,'" recalls Jeremiah Young, the former PIAA career rushing champion, who now attends Bucknell. "'He's slow; he can't get up and down the court?
"'You play him one-one-one. I bet you can't beat him.'"
Lloyd has never let looks or his appearance define him.
It's something his younger -- and considerably smaller -- brother Ryan Hill admires about him.
Lloyd, who stands 6'3," serves as St. Francis' starting right guard. Saint Francis (3-6) heads to West Long Branch, N.J. this weekend for a nationally-televised game with Monmouth on Saturday at noon.
Lloyd Hill's massive personality also earned him another nickname, 'The Mayor of Steelton.'
Four years later, nothing has changed.
"Even around here, you just look at Lloyd and say he always has a bright smile; lights up the room," said Ryan, now a starter on the Bucknell basketball team. "That's something every one can take away from Lloyd."
We all can learn something from Lloyd Hill.
It doesn't matter how outsiders look at us. What matters is how we look at ourselves.
"I just like the way I am," explained Lloyd. "I'm happy with myself. I'm not really going to change for nobody.
"I'm happy being big."
Some video used in this story was provided by SFU Athletics.
