Lex Hilliard was sorely missed in the starting lineup for the Grizzlies in 2006, but he was able to return, fully recovered, from a torn left Achilles tendon, an injury suffered in '06 fall drills. During his grueling rehabilitation, the powerful tailback added more bulk and strength to his frame while also improving his overall quickness.

He has the raw power to carry defenders into the end zone and scored 40 touchdowns on the ground. He is only the fourth Montana player to score over 250 points (252) in a career and just the second player in school history to rush for over 3,000 yards (3,241).

Hilliard was a multi-sport standout at Flathead High School, where he earned four letters in football, three in track, and one in wrestling. The team's two-time Most Valuable Player on the gridiron, he also garnered All-State and All-Conference football accolades in each of his final three seasons with the squad.

During his career, Hilliard set school all-time records by rushing for 3,419 yards and 44 touchdowns and compiling 4,410 all-purpose yards. He holds the school record with 1,384 yards and 14 touchdowns rushing as a sophomore, adding Great Falls Super State Team recognition.

Hilliard led the team to the Class AA state championship game as a junior. He participated in the East-West Shrine Game and the Montana-North Dakota All-Star Game. In track, he twice earned All-League honors while competing in the 100- and 200-meter dashes and 4x100 meter relays. He also threw the shot put. His sophomore, junior, and senior track teams all won state AA championships.

As a true freshman at Montana in 2003, Hilliard was a valuable reserve, playing in the final 12 games behind Justin Green. Hilliard was originally scheduled to redshirt, but the coaching staff felt he was capable of seeing extended playing time and activated him for the second game of the season. He went on to finish second on the team with 125 carries for 590 yards (4.7-yard average) and five touchdowns. He grabbed nine passes for 117 yards (13.0 avg) and returned a kickoff 12 yards while also posting two tackles.

Despite starting just four of 14 games as a sophomore, Hilliard earned All-Big Sky Conference first-team honors. He paced the Grizzlies with 972 yards on 190 attempts (5.1-yard average) and 17 touchdowns (second-best season total in school annals). He made 22 catches for 211 yards (9.6 avg), returned one kickoff eight yards and amassed 1,191 all-purpose yards (85.1 yards per game).

Hilliard earned All-American second-team honors from The NFL Draft Report and was again named to the All-Big Sky Conference first-team. He ranked second in the conference in rushing in his first year as a starter, gaining 1,322 yards with 12 touchdowns on 249 carries (5.3-yard average). He added 144 yards and two scores on 11 catches (13.1-yard average) and also attempted a pass. His average of 122.17 all-purpose yards per game ranked fourth in the Big Sky; 110.17 of the per-game total came on the ground.

On everyone's preseason All-American list and an early favorite for the Payton Award (Division 1-AA's top player), Hilliard suffered a torn left Achilles tendon midway through August camp and was forced to miss the 2006 season. The ground game averaged 139.36 yards per game in his absence, compared to 162.17 yards with Hilliard in the lineup in 2005.

In 11 games in '07, Hilliard gained 102.9 rushing yards per game -- 1,132 rushing yards -- and scored 16 touchdowns, averaging 4.7 yards on 242 carries. He caught 15 passes for 119 yards with a long gain of 24 yards and averaged 7.9 yards per reception. With 1,251 total yards, he averaged 113.7 all-purpose yards per game.

In 49 games at Montana, Hilliard gained 4,016 rushing yards and scored 50 rushing touchdowns and 52 total TDs. He carried the ball 806 times and averaged five yards per carry in his career (82 rushing yards per game) with a long gain of 69 yards in 2005. Only Yohance Humphery (4,070 yards, 1998-2001) had more rushing yards in his Montana career.

Positives: Has excellent bone structure and a muscular frame, broad shoulders, thick chest, wide hips, thick thighs and calves, well-defined arms with large hands and loose hips … May lack top-end speed but shows good athletic agility, change-of-direction skills and body control running the ball through the pile … Demonstrates very good hand-eye coordination as a receiver in controlled routes and uses his frame well to shield defenders from the ball … Takes the plays from the chalkboard to the playing field with no problems and has the ability to grasp a complicated playbook … Plays until the whistle and is a high-energy type with good aggression attacking the defender and breaking arm tackles … Runs with authority and at a low pad level … Has the field awareness to quickly locate the blitz and pass rush, facing up to defenders with good effort … Takes well to hard coaching and assumed leadership responsibilities … Has a team-first work ethic and is not one who will be enamored by press clippings or his face plastered on the television, but is a lunch-pail type with blue-chip ability … Shows adequate initial quickness in his running stride, but is quick getting out of his stance … Gets up to speed fast, but is also patient waiting for blocks to develop … Has the instincts and field vision to easily locate the cutback lane … Uses his blockers well and lowers his pads on contact while keeping his feet churning to gain additional yardage falling forward … More of a downhill runner, as he has excellent pick-and-slide agility … Demonstrates the ability to get to top acceleration smoothly and shows good running posture, finding the crease and hitting the holes hard … With his low pad level and strength when squaring his shoulders, he consistently knocks defenders back and breaks tackles … Gains positive yards after contact thanks to good body lean and, while he has marginal home-run speed, he shows a good change of pace and quick acceleration to bounce plays around the perimeter … More shifty and decisive than explosive, but is quick to find a lane and emerge downfield from trash to get into the second level … Good one-on-one battler working in space and shows very good ball security in traffic (has not fumbled in more than two seasons) … His loose hips and route-running ability will see him lined up from a flexed slot position on occasion … Has the large, natural hands to adjust and catch outside of his frame … Tough lead blocker who can widen and sustain the rushing lanes … Very willing when cutting defense lineman in pass protection or blocking linebackers on the QB draw … Shows ability to cut or square up, mirror and use hands in pass protection … Takes good angles when leading and neutralizing second-level defenders on the draw plays.

Negatives: Best served running between tackles, as he does not utilize shake-and-bake moves when trying to elude defenders in the second level, though he has good strength to break tackles … Has a quick stride to the hole, but is not considered explosive … Can be caught from behind on long runs and needs to develop a second gear as he won't separate from defenders in the open field … Used mostly on controlled routes and will drift a bit and take soft-angle cuts when asked to catch past the intermediate areas … Compensates for a lack of straight-line speed with balance and good change-of-direction agility … Has good weight-room strength, but must square up more often to push the pile. He was caught from behind on 24 runs in 2005, but improved in 2007, as he was tackled for losses just five times … Has good hands, but is rarely utilized in the passing scheme, as the team's offensive game plan did not utilize its backs much on a variety of pass routes.

Compares To: MARION BARBER, III-Dallas … Hilliard is a load to bring down in one-on-one situations (54.9% of his non-touchdown runs the last two years, 130-of-299, required multiple defenders to bring him down). He has the forward body lean, leg drive and power to consistently get the tough yardage between the tackles. He is more quick than fast and has been quite as productive getting long yardage off draw plays. He is a capable receiver on controlled routes and has developed into a capable cut blocker. He has made strong recovery from an Achilles tendon injury, but because of a lack of blazing speed, he is better served as an inside runner than one who should be attacking the edges. Barber is a more polished route-runner and receiver, but when used on controlled routes, Hilliard has proven to be a capable safety valve.

2004: Sat out the Maine contest (9/04) with a left hamstring pull suffered in the team's final fall camp scrimmage.

2006: Missed the entire season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn left Achilles tendon that he suffered in mid-August camp.

2007: Left the Weber State game (9/29) in the third quarter with a shoulder stinger.

Campus: 4.62 in the 40-yard dash … 340-pound bench press … 318-pound power clean … 35-inch vertical jump … 33-inch arm length … 9 3/8-inch hands … Right-handed … 24/50 Wonderlic score.

Attended Flathead (Kalispell, Mt.) High School, playing football for head coach Bob Applegate … Earned four letters in football, three in track, and one in wrestling … Two-time Most Valuable Player on the gridiron … Also garnered All-State and All-Conference football accolades in each of his final three seasons with the squad … During his career, Hilliard set school all-time records by rushing for 3,419 yards and 44 touchdowns and compiling 4,410 all-purpose yards … Holds the school record with 1,384 yards and 14 touchdowns rushing as a sophomore, adding Great Falls Super State Team recognition … As a junior, Hilliard led the team to the Stats Class AA championship game (team lost) … He participated in the East-West Shrine Game and the Montana-North Dakota All-Star Game … In track, he twice earned All-League honors while competing in the 100- and 200-meter dashes and 4x100 meter relays … Also threw the shot put … His sophomore, junior, and senior track teams all won state AA championships.

Sociology major, with an emphasis in Criminology … Son of Leslie Moeller and Elvis Hilliard … Born 7/30/84 … Resides in Kalispell, Montana