OTAs & Minicamp

Dontrell Hilliard earns sparkling reviews after excellent performance in OTAs

May 30, 2019 at 05:10 PM

Nick Shook

Staff Writer

Freddie Kitchens and his coaching staff in the last three weeks used organized team activities to install what he called a "base" for his team's offensive and defensive schemes.

Amid all of the instruction and installation, Dontrell Hilliard used the repetitions to make a name for himself.

Signed by the Browns as an undrafted free agent in early May 2018, Hilliard spent the first month of his first season on Cleveland's practice squad before he was elevated to the active roster on Oct. 9. He ended up appearing in 11 games and recording nine receptions for 105 yards.

Judging by his performance during OTAs, Hilliard is poised for much more in 2019 -- as long as he believes it's possible.

"When Freddie asked me to join him, he had high praises for Dontrell," Browns running backs coach Stump Mitchell said. "Like I told Dontrell, all I know is that we drafted a guy with the Jets in the seventh round, and (Hilliard) wasn't drafted at all, and this guy came from a historically black university and Dontrell came from Tulane, so there has to be a problem somewhere. And it's not his physical skills.

"He's got to believe that he belongs and we expect him to come out every day and make plays. I think what he has to understand is that he has to believe in himself as much as we believe in him. Now, he's getting an opportunity. This is huge for him, and he's having one heck of a spring training camp."

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Defensive tackle Trevon Coley (93) and Offensive tackle Drew Forbes (79) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.

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Defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson (98) and Cornerback Robert Jackson (34) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.

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Defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi (65) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.

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Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.

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Quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.

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Adam Henry during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.

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Quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.

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Cornerback T.J. Carrie (38) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.

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Defensive Coordinator Steve Wilks during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.

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Center Kyle Kalis (68) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.

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Defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson (98) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.

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Linebacker Adarius Taylor (57) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.

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Linebacker Mack Wilson (51) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.

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Defensive Coordinator Steve Wilks during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.

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Safety Tigie Sankoh (40) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.

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Cornerback Terrance Mitchell (39) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.

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Linebacker Christian Kirksey (58) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.

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Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.

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Cornerback Robert Jackson (34) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.

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Cornerback Terrance Mitchell (39) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.

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Cornerback Terrance Mitchell (39) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.

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Larry Jackson during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.

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Quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.

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Running Back Kareem Hunt (27) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.

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Stump Mitchell during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.

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Linebacker Genard Avery (55) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.

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Defensive end Chris Smith (50) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.

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Cornerback Tavierre Thomas (20) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.

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Defensive end Olivier Vernon (54) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.

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Defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson (98) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.

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Defensive end Chad Thomas (92) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.

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Defensive end Chad Thomas (92) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.

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Defensive Coordinator Steve Wilks during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.

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Wide receiver D.J. Montgomery (83) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.

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Quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.

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Kicker Greg Joseph (17) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.

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Wide receiver Jaelen Strong (10) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.

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Mike Priefer during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.

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Defensive end Olivier Vernon (54) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.

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Offensive tackle Greg Robinson (78) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.

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Defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi (65) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.

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Running Back Nick Chubb (24) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.

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Linebacker Genard Avery (55) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.

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Safety Jermaine Whitehead (35) and Joe Whitt during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.

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Center JC Tretter (64) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.

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Linebacker Joe Schobert (53) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.

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Linebacker Mack Wilson (51) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.

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Tight end Pharaoh Brown (86) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.

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Linebacker Sione Takitaki (44) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.

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Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.

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Defensive end Olivier Vernon (54) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.

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Joe Whitt during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.

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Linebacker Sione Takitaki (44) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.

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Linebacker Christian Kirksey (58) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.

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Cornerback Greedy Williams (26) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.

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Tight end Demetrius Harris (88) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.

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Cornerback Phillip Gaines (28) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.

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Cornerback Robert Jackson (34) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.

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Defensive end Anthony Zettel (97) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.

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Defensive end Jarrell Owens (62) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.

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Cornerback Lenzy Pipkins (41) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.

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Kicker Austin Seibert (2) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.

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Running Back Nick Chubb (24) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.

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Linebacker Joe Schobert (53) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.

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Willie Harvey during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.

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Wide Receiver Ishmael Hyman (16) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.

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Tight end Demetrius Harris (88) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.

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Wide Receiver Ishmael Hyman (16) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.

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Wide Receiver Ishmael Hyman (16) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.

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Quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) and Wide receiver Rashard Higgins (81) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.

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Cornerback Terrance Mitchell (39) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.

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Linebacker Anthony Stubbs (90) and Punter Jamie Gillan (7) during the ninth practice of OTAs on May 30, 2019.

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Hilliard has been all over the field within the Browns' offense, thriving as a pass-catcher out of the backfield. He repeatedly won one-on-ones and made difficult catches in the process, and has flashed as a multi-talented back who might just need a chance.

If a player with such abilities sounds familiar, it should. That player's name is Duke Johnson, an excellent runner who has also thrived as a pass-catcher for the Browns when he's been targeted.

The reason Hilliard is being mentioned in place of Johnson, though, is because Johnson hasn't been in attendance for any of the Browns' voluntary offseason activities. His absence has created the chance Hilliard needs to potentially stick with the Browns.

"I would love to see Duke as part of the team in September," Mitchell said. "I would also like to -- and I know it's voluntary -- I would've liked to see him take part in this camp because when you don't take part in this camp, you give somebody an opportunity to play that may not have had the opportunity. Now, that guy has to take advantage of the opportunity. Dontrell has been doing a hell of a job taking advantage of the opportunities."

Mitchell wasn't finished there with his praise for Hilliard.

"Everything," Mitchell said when asked what he likes about Hilliard. "His mindset, first of all, that he belongs here, that he can get things done. His ability to run routes, his ability to catch the ball. Just being quite frank with him about where he needs to be mentally, he needs to reach the point where we see he's at skill-wise. And I think he's climbing that ladder."