by Levi Walker Gilbert

Former Conway High School Wampus Cat and Arkansas Razorback Peyton Hillis has become a role model for young athletes in the 501. Recently, those young people had a chance to meet the football standout.

Hillis, his brother, Kyle, and other former high school and college football players started a football camp in Conway to help develop complete athletes in the 501.
“I want to reach back to my community and hometown,” Hillis said. “I grew up here. I know what kids in this area are going through. I know what they are thinking. Just because they are from a small state and a small town doesn’t mean they can’t achieve great things in life.
“I want to reassure the kids that there is more to life, and that they can achieve anything.”
Hillis will enter his second season in the National Football League this fall, coming off an injury-shortened first season. Hillis appeared in 12 games for the Denver Broncos, rushing for 343 yards off 68 carries and scoring five touchdowns. He had 14 receptions for 179 yards and one score.
Hillis (6-1, 250) is a versatile athlete. He was rated as the top fullback in the country by SuperPrep magazine coming out of high school. As a Razorback, he played tailback and fullback, and he was a dynamic option at receiver out of the backfield. In the Broncos’ June passing camp, Hillis saw action at tailback, fullback and receiver, and participated in special-teams drills.
“We’re going to use every skill he has,” first-year Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels told the Denver Post. “He does a lot of things well … He’s got great hands and he’s a very tough runner to bring down when you give him the ball. So he’ll do a lot of different things for us.
“As we tell our players, they all create their own roles. And he’s certainly done a good job of taking what we’re giving him and doing it very well.”
It’s not just Hillis’ physical versatility that is special, but also his versatile attitude to do anything to help his team.
“I really can’t say what my role will be with the Broncos this year,” Hillis said. “I just want to help my team produce and win. Hopefully we can get a playoff berth this season and reach the Super Bowl.”
Hillis has played in venues across the country, both as a Razorback and a Bronco, but he said nothing compared to playing football in Conway and the 501.
“Playing high school football were some of the best days of my life,” Hillis said. “[The 501] is where I have my roots and where I made friends for a lifetime. Playing at War Memorial [as a Razorback] was always really special. All of my family and friends would always be there. It was like playing a high school game all over again.”
Hillis played under two-time Super Bowl winning coach Mike Shanahan last season and gained valuable experience from one of football’s most elite coaches.
“Coach Shanahan has coached some of the greatest players in the game,” Hillis said. “He told me I could do anything in his offense. He really made me believe in myself.”
But Hillis said he learned more about football and life from former Conway football coach Kenny Smith than he has learned from any coach.
“It was special to play for [Smith],” Hillis said. “You become like a son to him. He makes you want to play hard for him. He gave me every opportunity in life, and he is the main reason I am where I’m at today.”
The football camp held sessions on July 11 and 18 in Conway, mixing drills and games to develop athletes from 7-18 years of age.
“We teach the basics of football,” Hillis said. “I give the kids a little taste of what I go through in the NFL, but we have a lot of fun, too.”