Peyton Derek Hillis, a former American football player known for his powerful 6'2" frame and 250-pound build, played both fullback and running back positions in the National Football League (NFL). He was born on January 21, 1986, in Conway, Arkansas.

College Football Career at the University of Arkansas

Hillis began his football journey at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, where he played from 2004 to 2007. Majoring in sociology, Hillis made a significant impact as a fullback. During his freshman year, he recorded 240 rushing yards, 97 receiving yards, and scored eight total touchdowns. His consistent performance throughout college contributed to his selection in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos.

Denver Broncos and NFL Debut

Hillis began his professional career with the Denver Broncos in 2008. He earned his first win with the team in a game against the Oakland Raiders. However, the team later faced a 26–17 loss to the Miami Dolphins that same season. Injuries briefly sidelined Hillis, but he returned to become Denver’s starting running back.

In a notable comeback, Hillis helped the Broncos to a 24–20 road victory over the Atlanta Falcons. He followed that with a standout performance against the New York Jets, rushing for a touchdown across 22 attempts in a 34–17 road win.

Due to his perseverance and strong work ethic, Hillis received individual accolades such as the Diet Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week and the FedEx Ground Player of the Week. Despite his emergence, recurring injuries and internal team disagreements led to his departure from the Broncos in March 2010 after two seasons.