Grant Sanders Hill
Grant Sanders Hill (1995–2021) was an All-American Football and Track and Field athlete from Huntsville, Alabama, whose passion for youth counseling and trauma recovery led him to earn a master’s degree in counseling. At the heart of his life was an unshakable faith in Jesus Christ, which shaped his character and fueled his drive for excellence. Grant lived with purpose, using his gifts to serve others with compassion, humility, and strength. His deep Christian values guided him to not only succeed but to uplift and inspire those around him. Whether mentoring youth or offering comfort to the hurting, Grant reflected Christ’s love in all he did. Though his life was short, his legacy continues to impact lives across the country and inspire others to live with the same grace and conviction.
He was a unanimous 2013 High School Football All-American by all major sporting networks and news agencies including a USA Today First Team All-American. Grant played in the 2013 Under Armor All-American Game and was recognized as he best offensive lineman[1]. Grant was graded as state of Alabama highest ranked offensive lineman in 2012[2] . Grant committed to the University of Alabama as part of the 2013 recruiting class, recognized as one of the greatest ever for the Alabama football dynasty[3].
He played college football for the Crimson Tide in 2013 and 2014, earning ESPN Pre-Season All-American and playing in 12 games over 2 years for the 2014 SEC National Championship Team.
Grant rapidly rose as one of Alabama’s Best Offensive Lineman4, securing playing time with the starting rotation, performing well in the 2014 Iron Bowl and playing with a Nick Saban Alabama team that later went on to win 51 games and the College Football Playoff (CFP) National Championship. Mario Cristobal coached Grant and developed a dominant offensive line for Alabama during the 2013 and 2014 seasons, winning a National Championship in 2016 before leaving to be head coach at Oregon and University of Miami.
Early Life
Grant Hill was born on 29 January 1995 on Super Bowl Sunday. He attended Blossomwood Elementary School, Huntsville Middle School, and Huntsville High School. Grant played multiple sports including basketball, baseball, football, track and was always a team player.
During his youth football playing career, Huntsville Middle School won the city championship in 2008 where Grant played both offensive line and field goal kicker. Cameron Tony and Grant were co-captains of an undefeated team that won many times by margins of 30 points.
During his youth track and field career, Grant was recognized six years in a row by ELITE Youth as the number one discus thrower in the nation.
High School Career
Football
Grant played football at Huntsville High School as Offensive Lineman playing both OG and OT. Grant started 4 years at Huntsville High during a stretch HHS made the AHSAA playoffs all four years from 2009-2012.
The RIVALS Top 100 5-Star Challenge in Atlanta June 2012 was the breakout camp for college recruiting, Grant was interviewed by Andy Staples by Sports Illustrated as an under the radar recruit for Alabama37.
Grant was a USA TODAY First Team All-American and Under Armor High School All-American2 where he was dominant and awarded most valuable lineman during the 2012 Under Armor Game31. He was ranked as one of the best offensive lineman in the nation by all major recruiting agencies including ESPN, SCOUT, RIVALS, MAXPREP, Tom Lemmings, and Friday Night Lights Magazine.
Grant signed with Alabama on 04 February 2013 for one of the greatest signing classes ever including Derrick Henry, O.J Howard, and Reuben Foster which would win 51 games in 4 years including 2 SEC championships and 1 national championships. Grant was awarded most improved lineman in both 2013 and 2014 by the University of Alabama (UAH) football team.
Track & Field
On 31 March, 2013 Grant launched a mammoth discus throw at the Homewood Invitational in Birmingham Alabama. The 203ft 7 inch throw was the longest throw in America when recorded and remains as the Alabama All-Time Discus Record[24]. Grant was a 2013 double AHSAA State Champion in both discus and shotput, finishing the season undefeated in all discus events he entered. Grant set multiple records at USATF and AAU National Track Meets[15][16] . Grant holds stadium throwing records at most venues in Alabama including Homewood and Scottsboro where running events were stopped during the meet to allow throws that were impacting under the bleachers on the other side of the track. Grant Discus technique progressed from 138ft in 8th grade to a lifetime best of 217 feet unofficial recorded by his team mates at Huntsville High School in 2013.
Grant was a National Class Track and Field Athlete in both Discus and Shot-put and earned 2013 Gatorade Alabama Track and Field Player of the Year 5. Grant earned National Champion Awards in USATF and AAU throwing discus, setting national and state records that remain today including the Alabama All-Time Discus Record of 203 Feet 7 inches 6. Grant consistently led the nation on MILESPLIT as the highest ranked U.S. Discus thrower during his high school career 7. Discus throwing records include Huntsville Milton Frank Stadium (197-3) 8, Scottsboro Invitational (193-4), Bob Jones (196-10), USATF Junior Olympics (189-10), AAU Club Championships (172-5), and Homewood (203-07).
College Career
Football
Grant Sanders Hill played college football for the University of Alabama Crimson Tide in 2013 and 2014, earning ESPN Pre-Season All-American in 2013 and playing for the 2014 SEC National Championship Team. Grant was a highly versatile athlete and played both Offensive Tackle and Offensive Guard for Two Seasons where each year Alabama competed in the NCAA College Football Playoffs. He had unique foot speed and was measured several times with 4.78-4.82 40-yard dash performances.
Alabama offensive lineman referred to Grant as the “Man-Child” due to his speed and agility[25]. Grant was a beloved team mate and was famous for cooking steaks outside the dormitory and feeding those who passed by. Grant played with the starting rotation and helped Alabama toward winning 23 games in 2 years, spending most of that time ranked number 1 in NCAA D1 football polls. Grant’s last college football game was in November 2014 where the Crimson Tide defeated Auburn University in the Iron Bowl at Tuscaloosa, Alabama which ended as highest scoring Iron Bowl.[38]
Grant was a gifted athlete and technician, Grant would always say “every detail in training matters.” Coach Nick Saban described Grants drive, work ethic, and athleticism best with these words “You couldn’t ask for a guy [who] has better intangibles,” “When you have great intangibles, that’s what helps you sort of accomplish whatever your goals are, whatever your vision is for what you want to do.”
2014 Alabama Crimson Tide SEC Conference Championship Team
Game Footage:
Life After Football Career
After leaving University of Alabama football after 2 seasons, Grant pursed his dream of a professional counselor with a vision of establishing a private practice to treat depression and youth struggling with life transitions. That vision would be realized after death through the Grant Hill Trauma Team (GHTT).
Grant worked at several Huntsville City Schools and youth therapy centers including Madison Behavioral Therapy[9], Huntsville High Freshman Academy, Northridge Middle School, Mountain Gap Middle School, UAB Civitan International Research Center, University of Alabama Psychology Department, Academy of Academics and Arts, and last at Southern Illinois University (SIU) studying criminal rehabilitation where he was pursuing his PHD in counseling.
Grant lived his life for Christ until his death on 31 October, 2021 in an accident while on an annual family hunting trip. Grant was in a good place at the time of his death, the world lost a highly talented young man at the age of 26 years old that was well on a path to change the world through his research on advancing mental health therapy and studies related to severe depression intervention.
Grant’s number 64 Jersey is retired in the Huntsville High School Gymnasium and Under Armor All-American Game Jersey in the Huntsville Football Sammons Athletic Complex.
To Honor his legacy, Hill Family Foundation[20] was established in 2021 to support youth mental wellness in the North Alabama community. The Grant Hill Trauma Team serves at the Mark C. Smith Wellness Center in Huntsville, Alabama.[19] The 17,000 square foot facility provides support to youth suffering from tragedy and trauma, helping them with not just Christian counseling, but real recovery advanced techniques to live life abundantly.
Death & Legacy
Grant Sanders died on 31 October, 2021 during a family mule deer hunting trip in Colorado Mountains. Grant passed doing what he loved most in life, experiencing the outdoors and pursing big games in extreme cold temperatures. Over 500 attended his funeral at Willowbrook Baptist church on 14 November, 2021 including staff from the University of Alabama Football team, Huntsville High team mates and coaching staff. Grant is buried at Maple Hill Cemetery in Huntsville, Alabama.
Grant Hill Life Tribute Videos:
Grant Hill Life Tribute Articles & Posts:
“Gone too soon: Late Alabama football OL Grant Hill remembered by former teammate”
Grant Hill was a wonderful teammate and friend. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends during this devastating time. pic.twitter.com/OJiNHdo9bU
— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) November 2, 2021
Family
Grant Sanders Hill parents are Brad and Stacey Hill, founders of Hill Family Foundation. Grant has two brothers, Brian Claude Hill is a successful entrepreneur and M&H Insurance owner in Marion, Illinois.
Hunter Hill an Aerospace Engineer in Huntsville, Alabama. Both brothers were college track letterman and highly successful athletes as skilled throwers, winning over 100 track medals during their high school and college career. Brian competed at Samford University winning 2 SoCon Conference Championships and medaling in Discus, Shot Put, and Hammer. Hunter competed at University of Alabama Huntsville (UAH) helping the team to win 2 Gulf South Conference Outdoor Conference Championships.
Brad and Stacey Hill are the proud grandparents of Clarie, Luke, and Noah Hill.
Scholarships
Hill Foundation sponsors annual scholarships to Huntsville High Seniors based on leadership skills for both the Varsity Football and Varsity Track Teams. The award is posted at Huntsville High School.
Kids to Love (KTL) Facility
The Mark C. Smith Wellness Center is a 17,000 square facility located at 104 Quality Circle in Huntsville Alabama. Hill Foundation partnered with Lee Marshall, KTL founder, by sponsoring the Grant Hill Trauma Team (GHTT), a team of counselors treating both KTL orphans and general public as an out-patient facility. 21
The Mark C. Smith Wellness Center located in Huntsville Alabama and Grant Hill Trauma Team (GHTT) is named to honor the life of Grant Sanders Hill. Hill Family Foundation (HFF) was established to perpetuate the Grant Hill dream of advancing mental health care. HFF supports mental health centers across the southeast and has more information at www.hillfamilyfoundation.net.
Mark C. Smith Wellness Center, Huntsville, Alabama Rendering
The Hill Family Foundation Annual Grant Hill Memorial Golf Tournament
Hill Family Foundation host Annual Fundraisers toward funding mental health research, wellness centers, and expanding operations for youth mental health. The Grant Hil Memorial Golf Tournament is held each year to support local therapy centers.
Grant Hill Faith and Mindset Quotes While Serving As Youth Counselor
“Peace: Only when you conquer every fear can I truly be free. “
“Faith: Fear is a natural response to something unknown or not yet experienced. God is all-knowing and all-experienced. I give my fear to God DAILY. Therefore, I am set free. “
“Commitment: DAILY. Relinquish fleshly desires in a daily experience with God. It is a WALK with God. NOT a 40 yard sprint then I’m done. “
“Trust in God: Trust is broken in today’s world. I am ready to trust humans because I know that God will NEVER LEAVE ME EVER.”
“Career Goals: It's awfully specific, but I'd like to work with adults struggling with transition periods in their lives such as people new to a city, new to college, graduating college and moving out, having kids, midlife crises, divorce, kids moving out, and retirement. It's just a research interest of mine as I see a lot of people struggle with transitions like the above. “
References
1 “Hill rising as one of Bama’s best O-linemen” / ESPN / Alex Scarborough / Oct 8, 2013 (Link)
2 “Alabama-committed offensive lineman Grant Hill gets Under Armour All-America Game jersey” / ESPN / Greg Ostendorf / 2012 (Link)
3 “Grant Hill — Alabama — Offensive Tackle (profile)” / Rivals (Link)
4 “Grant Hill — Offensive Guard Recruiting Profile” / ESPN (Link)
5 “USA TODAY High School Sports Unveils 2012 American Family Insurance ALL-USA Football Team” / PR Newswire / Dec 20, 2012 (Link)
6 “Tom Lemming unveils early Class of 2013 Top 100” / MaxPreps / Stephen Spiewak / Apr 9, 2012 (Link)
7 “MaxPreps 2012 All-American Football Team” (page 3) / MaxPreps / Stephen Spiewak / Jan 9, 2013 (Link)
8 “MaxPreps 2012 All-American Football Team” (page 3 — duplicate of #7) / MaxPreps / Stephen Spiewak / Jan 9, 2013 (Link)
9 “Grant Hill — Player Page” / 247Sports (Link)
10 YouTube video (life tribute) — title & channel as shown on YouTube (Link)
11 YouTube video (life tribute) — title & channel as shown on YouTube (Link)
12 “Grant Hill remembered by Alabama teammates” / Tuscaloosa News / (author & date as listed) (Link)
13 “Grant Hill | INTERN” / Madison Behavior Therapy (Link)
14 “Grant Hill 203' 7\" Discus Throw — US #1 (Homewood Invitational)” / AlabamaRunners (MileSplit) / Tim Loreman / Mar 31, 2013 (Link)
15 “AAU Junior Olympics – new records all around…” / MileSplit / (author & date as shown on page) (Link)
16 “Love leads record rush on final day of Junior Olympics” / MileSplit / (author & date as shown on page) (Link)
17 “A-List No. 5: Grant Hill enters 2012 as state’s top OL” / AL.com / (author & date on page) (Link)
18 “2013 signed players by school – University of Alabama class of 2013” / ESPN Recruiting (Link)
19 Hope for Trauma – “Our Team” page / HopeForTrauma.org (Link)
20 About Us – Hill Family Foundation / HillFamilyFoundation.net (Link)
21 “Kids to Love breaks ground on mental wellness center” / Kids to Love Foundation News / Feb 27, 2023 (Link)
22 (Twitter / X post) – Alabama Football tribute (Link)
23 “Football & Track and Field signee Grant Hill named Alabama Gatorade Track and Field Athlete of the Year” / RollTide.com / June 20, 2013 (Link)
24 “Hill humphrey US #1s at Homewood Invitational” / MileSplit / (author & date on page) (Link)
25 “Man-Child: Grant Hill sees extended playing time at Alabama” / AL.com / (author & date on page) (Link)
26 “Highest rated football recruits in Alabama over last 20 years” / Stacker.com (Link)
27 (article on Hill recruiting/national attention) / AL.com / (author & date) (Link)
28 “Meet the AL.com HS Football Team of the Decade” / AL.com / (author & date) (Link)
29 2024 Annual Report – Hill Family Foundation / HillFamilyFoundation.net / (published ~6 months ago) (Link)
30 (Amazon book listing or author site) / (title & author as listed) (Link)
31 Kids to Love – Home page (recently updated) (Link)
32 Foundation Directory / Candid profile for Hill Family Foundation (Link)
33 Kids to Love new mental wellness center groundbreaking / Madison Record / John Few / Feb 27, 2023 (Link)
34 Building progress update – “Walls are going up…” / HillFamilyFoundation.net / Brad Hill / (date ~6 months ago) (Link)
35 “Kids to Love facility named Curtis Cares Center & Mark C. Smith Wellness Center” / Kids to Love website / (recent) (Link)
36 Kids to Love news about Curtis Cares Center (Matt Curtis Real Estate blog) / (date) (Link)
37 (YouTube video: 2013 Under Armour All-American Game / Black Team / #64) (Link)