ENGLEWOOD, Colo. – One of the players I am most interested watching Thursday when the Denver Broncos open training camp is rookie running back Ronnie Hillman.
A strong offseason session started the buzz on Hillman, who I think could play a big role for the Broncos. There is some thought in the scouting community that Hillman, a San Diego State product whom Denver took with the No. 67 pick in April's draft, could potentially supplant Willis McGahee as Denver’s primary back this season.
Whether or not he becomes the starter, I do think Denver will give the 5-foot-10, 190-pound Hillman a chance to play often, and to be a receiving threat out of the backfield in addition to running the ball.
“He’s explosive,” Denver coach John Fox said of Hillman. “We like what we’ve seen so far. We targeted him and we think he will be able to help us.”
Thursday, he gets to begin the process in earnest.