Dontrell Hilliard

BIOGRAPHY

Dontrell Hilliard was born on February 26, 1995, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He is a running back and return specialist in the NFL. He played college football at Tulane.

At High School he was a Four-year letterman at Scotlandville High for coaches Eric Randal and Richard Oliver, he was rated a three-star recruit by 247Sports while garnering two-star status from Rivals and Scout. Hilliard received an 84 rating, listed as the No. 43 recruit in the state and ranked the No. 111 athlete in the nation by 247Sports. He helped lead the Hornets to a combined 26-13 overall record with three trips to the state playoffs, Dontrell claimed all-district honors all four years as a prepster, including first-team distinction as a sophomore, junior and senior. He was named first-team all-metro his final two seasons and claimed honorable-mention recognition as a sophomore and he was also claimed honorable-mention all-state as a senior after running for 978 yards and 16 touchdowns. Hilliard added 1,096 rushing yards and 19 scores as a junior.

During college, on 2014, Dontrell played in 12 games with a pair of starts as a true freshman, he rushed 97 times for 452 yards (4.7 avg.) and three scores while hauling in 30 passes for 244 yards (8.1 avg.) for a touchdown on offense in addition to returning 17 kickoffs for 260 yards (15.3 avg.). He also logged two tackles (1 solo, 1 assist) and paced the squad with an average of 79.7 all-purpose yards per game. He ranked third on the team in carries (97), yards rushed (452) and yards rushing per game (37.7 avg.) while also ranking third in receptions (30), having season highs of 192 all-purpose yards and 107 receiving yards while scoring a pair of touchdowns (1 rushing, 1 receiving), running 25 times for 85 yards and catching five passes at Houston (11/8), earning American Athletic Conference Player of the Week Honorable Mention and College Sports Madness AAC Offensive Player of the Week honors

On the 2015 season Hilliard played in all 12 games with two starts as a sophomore, he rushed 115 times for 646 yards (5.6 avg.) and six touchdowns in addition to catching 23 passes for 267 yards (11.6 avg.) and one score, recording 913 all-purpose yards (76.1 avg.). He led the team in rushing attempts, rushing yardage, rushing touchdowns, all-purpose yards and all-purpose yards per game, making him second on the team in total points (42) and fourth on the team in receptions and receiving yards. By 2016 Dontrell started in all 11 games played, leading the team in both rushing yards (759) and rushing touchdowns (9), with an averaged 69.0 rushing yards per game, producing a season long run of 67 yards. He rushed for 100+ yards three times. He carried the ball 12 times for two touchdowns and a career high 124 yards at Tulsa, then followed that up with 13 carries for 111 yards with one score vs SMU.

Hilliard signed with the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent on May 4, 2018.  He was promoted to the Browns' active roster on October 9, 2018. Hilliard made his NFL debut on October 14 against the Los Angeles Chargers, returning one kick for 31 yards and recording a tackle on special teams.  On the 2018 season he played in 11 games, posting nine catches for 105 yards, and returned 11 kickoffs for 264 yards (24.0 avg.). Dontrell logged three special teams’ tackles.

He was signed off the Titans practice squad in 2021 after Derrick Henry's injury.

Dontrell is an active player in the community, volunteering at multiple Browns events, including youth football camps and the Browns Golf Tournament.