Taysom Hill: The Making of an Eastern Idaho Superstar

Taysom Hill is being dubbed a “Jack of All Trades” by sports analysts, and there is good reason for it.

Born and raised in Pocatello, Hill is a quarterback who holds the record for field goals at Highland High School, the do-it-all guy for the rams, is now in the NFL doing it all with the New Orleans Saints.

He wears number 7 for the Saints, and is the backup to Drew Brees, but he’s now returning kicks.

His coaches at Highland say everything he did in high school, has translated to success in the NFL.

“He could get open, he could catch he could run, he did everything we wanted him to,” Said Gino Mariani, the head football coach at Highland. “We had some good running backs, he could’ve played running back. I mean he could’ve played anything. He was our kicker, he was our punter, he was our kickoff guy. He kicked a 47 yard field goal in a playoff game. And he is still in the record books for field goals.”

“I was on the opposite side of his journey,” Said Tom Jewell Jr., who was the defensive coach from 2002 to 2013.”It was defense and defending him everyday is not a lot of fun for kids or coaches. Most teams only had to face him once a week. We had to face him four times a week, Monday through Thursday. It was very difficult everyday to defend. Taysom made every throw and when he didn’t make every throw, he had a burst like nobody else, then you had to catch him.”

His parents say his energy for the game is something that could be seen at a young age.

“I think back when he played tackle football in 5th grad, he could just run through everyone.” Said Natalie Hill, Taysom’s mom. “It was just a lot of fun watching him, we just stood there and couldn’t believe it.”

“He’s just a competitor,” his father, Doug Hill said. “So you can’t if you’re on the sideline, so he loved being out there playing. At this level you kind of look at him. I used to tell him he got the best of both worlds. He got Jordan’s size and strength and Dexter’s speed and quickness.”

Jordan and Dexter are Taysom’s older brothers who inspired his football dreams, but beyond football, Taysom’s demeanor, commitment and work ethic was inevitable.

Mariani adds, “When we used to get together prior to games I’d give my little speech, then I’d let him talk and the kids listened, he’d get them wired up. He was an easy guy to follow because you knew exactly what you were going to get out of him every game.”

“Just his personality, his personality. The amount of effort that he put in everyday and his attitude, his attitude was infectious,” said Jewell Jr.

During Taysom’s senior year of high school, the Rams won 9 striaght to earn a 5A state title.

“He was a part of all 4 touchdowns scored,” said Mariani. “I think he ran in two, threw for two. And then we got the ball back and we put together a 9 minute drive and we got down to the 10 yard line and took a knee. And that’s how we finished it and it was just special.”

Just two years with the New Orleans Saints, Taysom Hill scored a touchdown in the NFC Championship game, which ended in a loss that sparked conversation around the nation.

“I was devastated after the loss and just how they lost,” added Mariani. “Little frustrating but it doesn’t take away what they accomplished and what he did. And what he did for the league. I would hope the league would wake up and kind of embrace a kid like that.”

Family, faith, and football.

There is no doubt that we will be seeing more of Taysom Hill.