In the southeastern part of Idaho, the city of Pocatello is home to New Orleans Saints player Taysom Hill. The small-town feel, beautiful landscape, and his family's closeness all served to raise him as the man we see today.
A vantage point of the "Welcome to Pocatello" tower that sits elevated over Idaho State Univeristy from across Interstate 15.
The iconic columns of Red Hill on Idaho State's campus stand tall above the city of Pocatello.
A vantage point of Kinport Peak and the "Welcome to Pocatello" tower from across Interstate 15.
An overlook of Pocatello, Idaho, population 55,193.
Doug and Natalie Hill, Taysom's father and mother, pose for a portrait on their back porch. Doug built the house with the assistance of Taysom and his siblings.
Doug and Natalie Hill pose in front of their Christmas tree with their grandchildren
Celeste Hill smiles while speaking about childhood memories of her brother Taysom.
The view of sunrise from the Hill's back yard.
A view of the sunrise over Bonnehill Peak from Pocatello, Idaho in the early morning.
A view of Pocatello, Idaho and Kinport Peak and the snow covered football field where Taysom Hill played as a boy.
An overlook of Pocatello, Idaho, population 55,193.
The view from Red Hill on Idaho State University's campus at sunrise. This lookout point shows off the natural beauty of Pocatello in all directions.
Idaho State University's Holt Arena.
Highland High School, where Taysom Hill would find his excellence as a student-athlete and graduate after playing multiple sports as a Ram.
Gino Mariani, Highland's winningest head football coach, shows off the student-athletes on his wall, as he remembers coaching Taysom in high school. He is a four-time state winning football coach as of 2018.
The high school motto of the Highland Rams written on the walls of the weight room where Taysom trained.
Coach Gino Mariani poses for a portrait in the weight room of Highland High School where he once coached Taysom in football.
The snow-covered varsity field where Taysom Hill practiced and played at Highland High School.
The frozen bleachers where Rams fans once cheered Taysom Hill during high school games.
The snow-covered varsity field where Taysom Hill practiced at Highland High School.
The junior varsity field where Taysom would practice is covered in snow during the winter months.
Spencer Hadley remembers his boyhood, growing up and playing sports with Taysom Hill, creating a lifelong friendship.
Pocatello, Idaho is a major railroad and train hub. As pioneers, gold miners and settlers traveled the Oregon Trail, they passed through the Portneuf Gap south of town. Stage and freight lines and the railroad soon followed, turning the community into a trade center and transportation junction.
Pocatello, Idaho is a major railroad and train hub. As pioneers, gold miners and settlers traveled the Oregon Trail, they passed through the Portneuf Gap south of town. Stage and freight lines and the railroad soon followed, turning the community into a trade center and transportation junction.
Pocatello, Idaho is a major railroad and train hub. As pioneers, gold miners and settlers traveled the Oregon Trail, they passed through the Portneuf Gap south of town. Stage and freight lines and the railroad soon followed, turning the community into a trade center and transportation junction.
Pocatello, Idaho is a major railroad and train station. As pioneers, gold miners and settlers traveled the Oregon Trail, they passed through the Portneuf Gap south of town. Stage and freight lines and the railroad soon followed, turning the community into a trade center and transportation junction.
Taysom-Rotary Park in Pocatello, Idaho.
One of the many newspaper clippings Doug and Natalie Hill have to remember Taysom's high school career.
Taysom Hill's aunt Marsha Lamprecht poses in her bagel shop "5th Street Bagelry." She has owned and operated the establishment for 25 years in Pocatello, Idaho.
This painting hangs over the staircase in Taysom Hill's parents' house.
A photo of Taysom with a kangaroo while he was on his two year mission in Australia.
Throughout the playoffs NewOrleansSaints.com will be showcasing the hometowns of players to give fans a look at the communities and the people that influenced them. The second part of our series of photos essays is a look at where Taysom Hill grew up, Pocatello, Idaho.
We'll continue with our series Friday with Cameron Tom and Baton Rouge.
Layne Murdoch, who heads up the Saints digital media video team, shot the photos of Hill's hometown. Murdoch was raised by a photographer and has been taking photos since he was 13 years old. He worked as a freelance photographer for 10 years covering sports and his work has been printed in publications such as Sports Illustrated, Panini Trading Cards, and ESPN Magazine. His favorite subjects to capture include athletes, landscape, and lifestyle.
