Hillard's a big hit for Fremd

Nick Hillard definitely has the primal instinct for playing middle linebacker.

When someone with the ball comes his way, the Fremd senior wants to do more than just make the play.

"The best part is right before you hit them, you look them straight in the face and then go bam," Hillard said. "That's my favorite part of every hit."

Which makes it a safe bet this has been a fun season for Hillard. His team-high 80 tackles include 12 for losses as the unbeaten Vikings get set for Saturday's Class 8A second-round visit from Loyola at 6:30 p.m.

But the 5-foot-9, 180-pound Hillard uses more than just brawn to succeed.

Hillard also wields a 4.3 grade-point average on a 4.0 scale and a 32 ACT. He's interested a possible double-major in engineering and business at schools such as Purdue, Illinois, Washington University in St. Louis and Northwestern.

That goes a long way toward making plays.

"Hillard's a genius and that's what makes him so good," said Fremd coach Mike Donatucci. "He doesn't forget anything. I forget stuff and he doesn't.

"As a freshman he had the most natural instinct of any kid I've seen come through the program."

And Hillard has already made an impression on a guy who knows something about playing the position at the highest level.

"He makes play after play," said Loyola coach and seven-year NFL linebacker John Holecek.

Hillard, who moved from Franklin Park to Hoffman Estates when he was 6, has been a linebacker and fullback since he started playing in fourth grade.

Hillard spent much of last year at fullback with all-area pick Chris Bulak patrolling the middle for Fremd. But a monster game as a spy linebacker in a quarterfinal loss to York was a good preview of his senior year.

"There was no doubt at all in my mind he'd be good there," Donatucci said.

"'Tucc' pulled me aside and said, 'This is your defense. You've got to step it up and fill those shoes,'" said Hillard, whose brother Chris played cornerback for Fremd in 2004. "We have a tradition of middle linebackers and really the whole defense.

"Last year Bulak did an unbelievable job and coach said, 'You've got a lot of big shoes to fill.'"

Hillard prepared himself physically and can bench press 300 pounds and clean 275. It didn't take long to adjust mentally to lead a defense allowing 12 points a game.

"When I finally got to play it felt right and as the year went on and the postseason went on things fell into place," Hillard said. "(Linebackers Kevin) Krieter and (Jonathon) Diegel have stepped up huge this year."

Hillard wants to play in college as long as it fits with his education plans. At his size, he knows he may have to be a fullback or safety.

"If he was 4 inches taller he'd be a maniac," Donatucci said.

"Right now I'm just worried about the games," Hillard said. "I have options and whatever happens, happens.

"Football after high school won't be my No. 1 priority, but I'd love to keep playing."

And Hillard would like to deliver a few hellos to his old grade school buddy Peter Badovinac, an Inverness resident who is Loyola's starting quarterback.

"I'd be really happy about that," Hillard said with a hitter's smile.