Four-time NFL Pro Bowl selection TY Hilton’s Father’s Day weekend got off to a memorable start.
The son of a former Indianapolis Colts star and high school football star, Eugene Hilton Jr., has announced his commitment to play college football at the University of Wisconsin. The younger Hilton brother chose Wisconsin after receiving interest from several other schools, including Miami, Georgia and Ole Miss.
Former Badgers football star JJ Watt was excited when he found out his alma mater had landed a highly coveted recruit.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Former NFL player JJ Watt visits the set of Amazon Prime’s TNF pregame show before the NFL football game between the Tennessee Titans and the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium on November 2, 2023 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Cooper Neal/Getty Images)
“[H]”I’d rather cheer for Hilton than watch him run a 50-yard post route from behind,” the former NFL pass rusher wrote in response to a photo of Hilton and his son posted to X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
Hilton later replied to Watt, writing, “JJ, we’re a team now,” along with a salute emoji.
Hilton Jr., a standout wide receiver out of Zionsville Community High School in Indiana, is a three-star prospect in the 2025 class.
With Tom Brady and JJ Watt desperate to play one more time, former NFL star explains why football keeps players coming back
Watt was selected in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft by the Houston Texans after a stellar career in Madison.
Indianapolis Colts player TY Hilton (wearing number 13) is spotted during a game against the Houston Texans at Lucas Oil Stadium on October 17, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
Hilton, the eldest, played college football at Florida International University, but spent the majority of his NFL career with the Texans’ AFC South division rival, the Colts.
Hilton recorded 1,820 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns in 20 career games with the Texans. Hilton will play in three games with the Dallas Cowboys in 2022 before retiring from football.
Former Houston Texans player JJ Watt waves to the crowd during his induction into the Texans Ring of Honor ceremony during a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at NRG Stadium on October 1, 2023 in Houston, Texas. (Logan Leary/Getty Images)
Hilton Jr. said he didn’t make the decision to attend the University of Wisconsin lightly.
“It means a lot to me. It means a lot not only to me but to my family to know that they met the requirements and went above and beyond,” he said of his commitment to the Badgers.
Click here to get the FOX News app
“You can tell by the number of guys that Coach Fickell has put into the league,” Hilton said of Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell, who was named head coach of the Badgers in 2022 but spent the previous six seasons in Cincinnati.
Follow Fox News Digital X’s sports coverage,subscribe Fox News Sports Huddle Newsletter.
