Hillman is from Compton, California. He has four brothers and one sister. During his early years, Hillman highlighted his talents while attending and made his presence known at La Habra High School, lettering in basketball, football, and track. In football, he played as a running back. In 2007, he was named Southwest Division offensive player of the year after helping lead the Highlanders to the CIF Southern Section Southwest Division championship crown in a season where he amassed 1,615 yards and 20 touchdowns. As a senior in 2008, he was selected MVP of the Freeway League as he accounted for 2,104 yards all-purpose yards and 27 total touchdowns all-purpose yards and led the Highlanders to a 12-2 record and to the 2008 CIF Southern Section Southwest Division title after going 5-0 in the Freeway League and winning the 2008 Freeway League championship. His performance earned him first-team All-County honors and by the Orange County Register. Hillman was also a sprinter on the track & field team, where he was a member of the 4 × 100 m relay squad and competed in the 100 100-meter dash with a personal-best of 10.7 seconds. Following his senior season, Hillman was tabbed as a three-star recruit by most recruiting analysts and received scholarship offers from Colorado State, San Diego State, and Fresno State. After a long gated period of time, Hillman decided to veer his talents locally for the Aztecs.
College career
Hillman sat out the 2009 season while SDSU sorted out administrative issues involving his admission. This redshirt year did not count towards Hillman's eligibility.
Freshman season
As a freshman for the 2010 San Diego State Aztecs football team, Hillman gained 1,532 yards and scored 17 rushing touchdowns. On September 18, 2010, he gained 228 rushing yards against Missouri in his third college football game.
Sophomore season
As a sophomore in 2011, Hillman rushed for 1,478 yards and 15 touchdowns during the 2011 regular season. He ranked fourth among all players in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision with an average of 5.5 rushing yards per carry. He ranked sixth in total rushing yards. He gained over 100 rushing yards in eight of San Diego State's 12 games in 2011. On September 17, 2011, the San Diego State Aztecs faced the 2-0 undefeated Washington State Cougars at Qualcomm Stadium. Hillman scored on four touchdown runs, leading the Aztecs to a 42-24 victory and their first 3-0 Start in 30 Years. On October 29, 2011, he gained a season-high 224 yards against Wyoming for 2 touchdowns, including a 99-yard touchdown run. On January 4, 2012, Hillman announced that he hired an agent and would be entering the 2012 NFL Draft.
Statistics
Professional career
Denver Broncos
Hillman was drafted in the third round with the 67th overall pick by the Denver Broncos, signing a 4- year deal with the team. In week 11 against the Carolina Panthers, Hillman scored his first career touchdown on a 5-yard run.
2013 season
Hillman earned the starting job in the season opener against the Baltimore Ravens where he had 4 carries for 15 yards and 2 catches for 27 yards. On September 23, he had a rushing touchdown against the Oakland Raiders. On October 20 against the Indianapolis Colts, the Broncos were down by 6 on the Colts' 2 yard line and needed the touchdown to take the lead. Hillman took the carry and fumbled as the Colts recovered. The Broncos reached Super Bowl XLVIII, but lost 43-8 to the Seattle Seahawks. Hillman was inactive for the Super Bowl.
2014 season
After teammate Montee Ball went down with a groin injury, Hillman was announced the starter. In his first career start, Hillman had 100 yards rushing in a 31-17 win over the New York Jets. He would have 74 yards and two touchdowns in a 42-17 rout over the San Francisco 49ers.
2015 season
Hillman had the most productive season of his career in 2015, rushing for 863 yards and seven touchdowns on the year. In week 4 against the Minnesota Vikings, Hillman ran for a 72-yard touchdown, the longest run of the 2015 NFL season at that point. The Broncos finished the season 12-4 and earned the AFC's #1 seed. The Broncos defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Divisional Round and the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship to advance to the Super Bowl. On February 7, 2016, Hillman was part of the Broncos team that won Super Bowl 50. In the game, the Broncos defeated the Carolina Panthers by a score of 24–10. Hillman had five carries for no yards in Super Bowl 50 with his longest rush in the game being for three yards.
2016 season
On April 18, 2016, Hillman re-signed with the Broncos on a one-year, $2 million contract. On September 3, 2016, Hillman was released by the Broncos.
Minnesota Vikings
On September 21, 2016, Hillman was signed by the Minnesota Vikings after Adrian Peterson suffered an injury in Week 2. He was released by the Vikings on November 21, 2016.
