Hill grew up in Gary, Indiana, and enrolled at the University of Michigan in 1953. He played on the all-freshman team in 1953 and was a backup player for the 1954 team.[1] As a junior, Hill started all nine games at left guard for the 1955 Michigan Wolverines football team. The team finished the season with a 7-2 record and was ranked No. 12 and No. 13 in the final AP and UPI polls.[2]
As a senior, Hill again started all nine games at left guard for the 1956 Michigan team, and he was selected as that team's most valuable player. The team compiled a 7–2 record and finished with a No. 7 ranking in both the AP and UPI polls.[3] After the season was over, Hill was selected to play for the North team in the annual North-South Shrine Game at the Orange Bowl.[4]
In June 1957, Hill signed a contract to play for the Montreal Alouettes in the Canadian Football League.[5] He played with the Alouettes during the part of the 1957 season.[6] Hill was cut by the Alouettes in September 1956, as he was preparing to enter the United States Army.[7]