LSU wide receiver makes history during pre NFL Draft grind

LSU wide receiver makes history during pre NFL Draft grind originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Chris Hilton Jr. did not just participate in the pre NFL Draft process. He reshaped it.

As we get closer to April’s NFL Draft, Hilton has made history by becoming the first known college football player to compete in four all-star games. This is an unprecedented stretch that speaks to durability, belief, and a refusal to wait for opportunity.

From the Hula Bowl to the American Bowl and finishing with the East-West Shrine and Senior Bowls, Hilton treated every invitation as a fresh audition. He arrived early, sometimes short on sleep, and still found ways to create separation, make plays late in practice, and stay engaged when timing was not perfect.

“It’s really been a long journey for me,” Hilton told Champside. “From this past season up to now that’s just a testament to my work.”

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Four all star games mean weeks of practices, travel, and nonstop evaluation. Hilton insists preparation allowed him to handle the workload without wearing down.

“Honestly bro I’m 100% healthy. I’m fine,” he said. “That’s just the work I put into my body. Hot tub cold tub cryo whenever I can. Every bowl game I’ve been to I find a cryo place just to hop in there for three minutes.”

Rather than viewing the stretch as wear and tear, Hilton framed it as a reset.

“It’s basically like a new season,” he said. “That’s how I’m approaching it.”

That mindset was forged during a challenging final season at LSU Tigers, when opportunities did not always align with expectations. Hilton’s response never changed.

“I always tell myself to show up,” he said. “That’s the hardest part of the battle. The work was never conditional.”

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Scouts will eventually narrow the evaluation to numbers, especially the 40 yard dash. Hilton has previously posted a laser timed 4.31 in training and believes his biggest gains come in the details.

“Really just working on my first couple of steps,” he said. “That’s what you really thrive at.”

You also have to wonder just how fast this could get. A 4.31 with tired legs naturally raises the question of whether a number in the 4.2s is obtainable. If everything lines up, it is fair to ask whether Hilton could at least flirt with the territory occupied by Xavier Worthy, whose record setting 4.21 at the 2024 NFL Combine reset expectations for pure speed. For a player who has already made history by showing up four times when most prospects choose one, chasing something rare again would feel fitting.

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The belief in Hilton is not limited to his own voice. Former LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier saw the talent firsthand and believes this stretch is finally allowing Hilton to display it.

“Chris is an unbelievable player,” Nussmeier told me at the Senior Bowl. “We had so many wideouts this year. It was tough to get everybody the ball and let everybody showcase their talent but Chris is a special player. I’m happy for him and glad he was able to show people what he can do. He has a bright future.”

For Hilton, that validation matters. But the message of the last few weeks is already clear. Availability. Resilience. Faith. And a willingness to keep showing up.

“I’m happy,” Hilton said. “I’m having fun playing the game that I love.”

Four all-star games later, Hilton did more than chase exposure. He made history and made sure the league knows exactly how he is doing.

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