Anthony

Hines

To be clear, it does not (yet) appear as though Hines is opting out in order to prepare for the NFL Draft. Hines would still have a year of eligibility left in 2021 and he made no indication that he is going pro right now. What Hines did mention, however, is that it’s tough for him to be “100% locked into the game of football right now,” citing the pandemic, injustices against people of color, etc. Hines added that he would rather take this time to make a difference in his community.

Hines (6'3/230) suffered a lower-leg injury during the Aggies’ win over Northwestern State, with his season coming to a premature end as a result. Now he and Buddy Johnson are expected to move into the roles left vacant by Otaro Alaka and Tyrel Dodson, who led Texas A&M in tackles last season. Hines still has some rust to rid himself of, which is understandable given how long he was out, but he’s getting closer to where he was before the injury. “He has kind of experienced some of those ups and downs, but I think over the last three, four practices, he’s started to get his feet underneath him to where he’s starting to see himself become the player he’s used to seeing when he puts the film on,” DC Mike Elko said.

It looked like 2018 was going to be the breakout season for Hines, but the 6-foot-3, 230-pound linebacker played in just one game because of an injury. The year before, he was a freshman All-American after making six tackles for loss. Hummer notes he plays a position in DC Mike Elko’s system that offers importance, so getting Hines to play at the same level in 2019 will be significant for the Aggies. He could be among the best linebackers in the SEC this fall if he does.

During his senior season at Plano East High (Texas), Hines was a flat-out terror of a tackling machine. He recorded an almost unbelievable 245 tackles (38.0 for loss) in 11 games. This was the 6-foot-3, 230-pounder’s second campaign with at least 200 tackles. Rivals editor Mark Passwaters notes that Hines possesses “remarkable physical tools and intelligence to match.” Passwaters’ outlet ranks him as the No. 231 overall prospect for the 2017 cycle, No. 9 at linebacker.

Hines committed to the Aggies at the beginning of December. Haubert writes that the 6-foot-3, 230-pounder could play either inside or outside linebacker depending on how Texas A&M would like to utilize him, writing that he has the requisite size, smarts and athleticism to fit either position. Hines ranks as ESPN 300’s No. 1 linebacker in the 2017 class and their No. 84 overall prospect.

Hines caught Simmons’ eye at The Opening regional in Dallas, writing that the uncommitted linebacker’s “length combined with his athleticism is what really separates [him].” The 6-foot-3, 230-pounder out of Plano, Texas, has yet to narrow his school preference down (at least publicly), but ranks as Rivals’ No. 107 overall prospect for the 2017 cycle. “He looked like the type of player that was itching to be in pads,” Simmons concluded.

Aggies HC Jimbo Fisher did not delve into much further detail when announcing Hines’ injury and prognosis during Wednesday’s SEC media teleconference. He did shed at least a little light as to the timing. Apparently, the 6-foot-3, 230-pounder initially suffered the lower-body injury in preseason camp, with the health concern being reaggravated after the season got underway. Hines sat out in Week 1, but was able to play against Clemson this past weekend. Hines logged 33 tackles and three sacks as a true freshman last year. He’ll likely take a redshirt for the current season now that his sophomore season has been cut short. The Aggies have a deep linebacking corps, and while Hines was a four-star recruit out of high school, the team should be able to cover for his loss without serious issue moving forward.