Four-time NFL Pro Bowler TY Hilton’s Father’s Day weekend got off to a memorable start.
High school football star Eugene Hilton Jr., the son of the former Indianapolis Colts star, has announced his commitment to play college football at Wisconsin. Hilton Jr. chose Wisconsin after drawing interest from several other schools, including Miami, Georgia and Mississippi State.
Former Badgers football star JJ Watt was excited to learn his alma mater signed the highly sought-after prospect.
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Former NFL player JJ Watt visited the Amazon Prime TNF pregame show during the NFL football game between the Tennessee Titans and the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on November 2, 2023. (Cupnel/Getty Images)
“[H]I’m happy to be rooting for Hilton now instead of watching a guy run a 50-yard route behind me,” the former NFL rusher said in response to a post on Hilton and his son on X (formerly Twitter) Said the photo.
Watch the moment on X
Hilton later responded to Watt, writing, “We are Team JJ now,” along with a tribute emoji.
Hilton Jr. was a standout wide receiver out of Zionsville Community High School in Indiana and was a three-star recruit in the 2025 class.
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Watt had a stellar career in Madison before being drafted by the Houston Texans in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft.
TY Hilton #13 of the Indianapolis Colts during the game against the Houston Texans at Lucas Oil Stadium on October 17, 2021. (Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
Hilton, the oldest, spent his college football career at Florida International University. However, he spent most of his time in the NFL playing for the Colts, the Texans’ AFC South rival.
Hilton has 1,820 yards and 11 touchdown receptions in 20 career games against the Texans. Hilton appeared in three games with the Dallas Cowboys in 2022 before retiring.
Former Houston Texans player JJ Watt during a ceremony honoring him into the Texans Ring of Honor during a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at NRG Stadium on October 1, 2023 in Houston, Texas waving to the audience. (Logan Reilly/Getty Images)
Hilton Jr. said he didn’t make the decision to choose Wisconsin lightly.
“It means a lot to me. Not just me but my family knowing they checked those boxes and then some,” he said of his commitment to the Badgers.
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“What’s also remarkable is how many people Coach Fickell has invested in this league,” Hilton said of Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell. He was named head coach of the Badgers in 2022, but spent the previous six seasons in Cincinnati.
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