Illinois’ late-blooming big-play WR who flashed true top-end upside
In the 2013 season, Steve Hull broke out for Illinois with 59 catches for 993 yards and 7 touchdowns, including a 224-yard, 2-TD explosion against Indiana that still ranks among the program’s best single-game receiving performances.[2][7][9] The hook here is his playmaking: at 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds, Hull offered size, separation, and downfield juice, while also bringing a rare mindset for a former safety-turned-receiver who wasn’t afraid of physical work.[1][4][15] If you need a receiver who can win vertically and turn volume into chunk plays, he’s your guy; the caution flag is that his college impact was concentrated into one standout season after earlier years battling a shoulder injury and a position switch.[1][2][15]
