Dierre Hill Jr. spends plenty of time playing video games with his Althoff football teammates.
It is a daily occurrence.
Yet with a little twist.
The time Hill logs in front of a computer screen is hardly a sit-for-hours affair.
Hill, along with seniors Charleston Coldon and Cooper Zimmer, love wiling away the hours with knockdown, dragout contests against each other in NCAA College Football 25, War Zone, Call of Duty and NBA 2K.
They play one another from their own residences.
But there is plenty at stake in the high-spirited affairs.
The loser has to do 40 pushups, situps or curls. The winner only has to do 20. They are kept on an honor system and do the work on their own at home right after the defeat.
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"I'll be truthful, we're all pretty equal, we've all beaten one another," Hill said. "It's a competitive mindset. But the best part is we all get a workout in by the time we're done and that's what helps us improve on the field."
Hill's passion for football has played a key role in his success.
And that extra work away from the field, and on the video screen, is a perfect example of the desire that the 6-foot, 190-pound running back possesses.
"You'll be hard pressed to find anyone as driven as he is," Althoff coach Austin Frazier. "He's not into losing — at anything."
Hill, who is No. 3 on the Post-Dispatch Super 30 football recruiting countdown, has given a verbal commitment to attend the University of Oregon of the Big Ten Conference, choosing the Ducks over 22 other offers from NCAA Division I schools across the country including Ohio State, Illinois and Mizzou.
The dynamic speedster who recently set a personal best with a 10.9-second clocking in the 100-meter dash, possesses a burning desire to improve.
And that is easy to tell by his penchant for video game glory.
"I've always had a belief and confidence in what I can do," Hill said.
It shows.
Hill rushed for 1,788 yards and scored 28 times in helping the Crusaders reach the Class 1A quarterfinal round last season. He amassed 127 yards or more in 10 games and scored multiple touchdowns seven times. His 264-yard, four-TD effort against Centralia turned heads across the state.
"He's so dynamic in any type of space," Frazier said. "Just get him the ball, he'll do the rest."
Hill, who is also a basketball standout, transferred to the Belleville-based school after spending his freshman and sophomore seasons at Vashon High of the Public High League in ºüÀêÊÓƵ.
So far, the move has paid big-time dividends.
"Nothing against Vashon, I have some great memories from there, but I've learned and (grown) so much here," Hill said. "This place is home now. It's where I feel comfortable, where I'm happy."
Frazier feels blessed to be able to work with Hill on a daily basis.
"He's just such a high-level moral and ethical kid," Frazier said. "Happy, smiling all the time, gets along with everybody. He's just a joy to be around."
Hill, who can also play as a wideout or slot receiver, likes to maintain a low profile.
His popularity was never more evident than in mid-May at the Althoff campus when he announced his commitment to Oregon. All students were encouraged to attend the late afternoon event even though school had officially been dismissed leading up to the announcement of his signing.
Almost the entire student body stuck around to see Hill's choice. He rewarded each and every classmate by staying around an hour or so to take pictures and speak with those who wanted to offer their congratulations.
"I've never heard anyone, teachers, students, anyone, say a bad thing about him," Frazier said.
Explained Coldon, his video game partner and teammate, "He's just a dog, everyone loves him."
Hill, who grew up in Centralia, Illinois, is the oldest of four siblings. He keeps a close eye on Justyce (11 years old), Joshua (7) and Denym (5) and hopes to set an example for them to follow down the road.
"Family is everything to me," Hill said.
Hill is intense, yet wears his emotions on his sleeve.
He broke down in tears following the Crusaders' 42-22 loss to Camp Point Central in the final game last season.
Althoff rolled into that contest riding a seven-game winning streak. But Camp Point Central, which went on to win the state title, scored 30 points in the opening period to stun Hill and his teammates.
The shock was apparent after the game as Hill couldn't stop crying when trying to explain the painful setback.
"It hurts to lose, no matter what you're doing," Hill said. "I've cried before after losing. I'm very passionate and (losing) is just upsetting for me."
Hill's eventual goal is to play in the NFL.
"I'm never going to quit working and putting out everything I can on every play, in every practice," Hill said. "That's just how I am."