ORLANDO, Fla. — Bethune-Cookman's graduate student Dametri Hill only needs four pieces of gear to have a great day: a TV, game system, the Madden video game and a controller. 

What You Need To Know

  • Bethune-Cookman graduate student Dametri Hill won multiple Madden tournaments 

  • Hill won the EA Sports HBCU Madden tournament as a sophomore

  • The former West Orange football player said he wants to make playing Madden his career

  • Hill is a former football linebacker for Murray State and Fort Valley State 

He spends six to 16 hours a day playing the Madden video game. 

If it’s around Madden tournament time, it’s even more. 

“I can be clocked at eight to 20 hours a day,” Hill said. “Eat, sleep, Madden.”

Hill has been ranked in the top 100 of Madden players multiple times. When he competes against another player online, he treats the game like he’s on the gridiron. 

“I don’t think it would be a very good experience playing me online because how detailed and disciplined I am,” Hill said. 

Hill played linebacker for Murray State and Fort Valley State after starting his football career at West Orange High School. 

But his love for video games was stronger.

“I was spending so much time on the game that my mom was kind of looking at me crazy,” Hill said. “But this is what I have a passion for. Then, once my family saw me travel to different places and win different prizes, they were more open to it.”

Hill won the HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) Madden Tournament as a sophomore. 

During the Pro Bowl Game this year in Orlando, he played in a Madden tournament sponsored by EA Sports. 

He said his hope is to one day win a national tournament, which can net a gamer $250,000. 

“That’s life-changing money,” Hill said. “This is just the beginning. I think you’ll start to see a jump where people can make a living off Madden.”

It’s just the simple things that drive Dametri Hill — competition and Madden — are all he needs.