WILLIAMSBURG Chase Hill is a numbers kind of guy.

Numbers used in investment banking and money management. The kind also used to solve physics equations.

"I never liked reading or anything like that," Hill said yesterday. "But I love numbers. I was a science type of person in high school, so I think I'll head down that path."

Hill, a wide receiver for William and Mary's football team, is majoring in finance and physics, although the sophomore could change his mind.

"I'm in the business school right now, but I may change my finance major to business management," he said. "Business school is pretty tough right now. It's hard to manage that and football, [with] missing Friday classes [for road games].

"The thing is, I was redshirted, so I'll have five years here. That's enough time to hopefully complete those things. It also helps being here in the summer and taking classes."

Hill also is interested in numbers of a different kind. The 6-2 192-pounder from Virginia Beach has caught 11 passes for 104 yards for the Tribe (0-1, 2-2), which visits fourth-ranked New Hampshire (1-0, 4-0) in a Colonial Athletic Association game Saturday.

Not bad for someone who was a quarterback at Princess Anne High and spent his first W&M year on the scout team at that position.

"At the end of my first year, I went to Coach [Jimmye] Laycock and told him I'd like to make a switch to receiver," Hill said. "I think I could benefit the team . . . get on the field faster."

Hill, who also serves as the long snapper on punts, didn't play last season, but he has become one of the top receivers this year, mainly running short patterns out of the slot position.

Making the transition wasn't difficult for Hill.

"One good thing about being a receiver after being a quarterback in the past is you can see the play through the eyes of a quarterback. Running routes, things like that," Hill said. "I spent all summer here, working on catching the ball.

"There's definitely a lot of technique I had to pick up. Working on blocking and improving on route-running. I never had to block as a quarterback, and now I have to block outside linebackers and chase safeties around."

Hill also can relate to R.J. Archer, who was a quarterback in high school, spent two years as a wide receiver and now is the backup QB for the Tribe.

Archer started in place of the injured Jake Phillips last week and passed for more than 300 yards in the 38-28 loss to Villanova. Phillips is expected to return this week.

"I don't think there's much difference between the two," Hill said. "Jake and R.J. both know the offense really well. They've been in the system a long time. They're both great leaders on the field, vocally and through the plays."

Archer impressed Laycock with his effort against Villanova, which included a touchdown pass and two short TD runs.

"He was put in a tough situation," Laycock said of the 35-0, first-half deficit. "Playing catchup, and they're teeing off and coming after you. I thought he really played a great game under the circumstances."

Who knows? Maybe Hill will get another chance at QB.

"I'm not sure," he said. "I'll have to see what R.J. does next season. It's whatever benefits the team at the time."
Contact John Packett at (804) 649-6313 or jpackett@timesdispatch.com.