Texas A&M football’s 2017 recruiting class featured highly touted Plano linebacker Anthony Hines. What can fans expect from the freshman this season?
Myles Garrett: Gone. Daeshon Hall: Gone. Trevor Knight: Gone. Christian Kirk and Armani Watts: About to be gone. Our playmakers are graduating and getting drafted left and right, leaving the Aggies with some big holes to fill. Who will be the future for the Aggies and who will fill those holes?
In this series of short articles, I will be analyzing a handful of recruits the Aggies managed to grab this year. Within each article, I will divulge into the recruit’s strengths, weaknesses, and how the Aggies might possibly use them.
Recruiting is the foundation to any successful program. The Aggies have had tons of talent come through but sometimes you don’t discover said talent until later into their career. I’d like to give you some insight on the younger talent, and my future classmates, that the Aggies have acquired. This week, we’ll start off with defense.
Could one of Texas A&M football’s newest recruits be the next Von Miller? The Aggies picked up one of the best linebackers in the state from Plano, Texas: Anthony Hines. He’ll have big shoes to fill in 2017, but he looks to be up to the task.
Replacing important playmakers
With the recent leaving of Richard Moore, there is a hole to fill in the Aggie’s front seven. Even though Moore didn’t play a humongous role on the defense, his experience and IQ will be hard to replace. Plus, with Garrett and Hall gone other people are going to have to step up and resume their roles.
It seems that the guys stepping up to play defensive end are going to be senior Jarrett Johnson and either senior Qualen Cunningham or Cisco Jr College transfer, Michael Clemons. Johnson was a solid two last year racking up 18 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks.
Clemons’ Cisco tape is impressive. At 6’6” 240lbs, Ben Baby of Dallas News says he has a “Sunday body.” If it’s me, I’m going to start Cunningham. His experience against D1 play gives him the edge in this competition for me. However if Clemons does get the start I’d understand. His athletic build is impressive and something nice to build on. Plus, he has more room to grow and perhaps a higher ceiling.
Now, I’m no magician and I can’t see into the future, but my gut is telling me that these gentlemen will not have the same exact impact off the edge as Hall and Garrett. So, with an assumed weaker pass rush this coming year, the Aggies will have to find someone to pick up the slack.
How about the linebackers?
The D-Line has obviously been a strong point for Texas A&M recently but again, with the two ends leaving more people will have to step up. This is okay! The Ags are pretty solid at the linebacker position this year. The young Tyrel Dodson sealed the middle up exceptionally well for a true freshman and his starting spot is relatively locked. So, the question is who are going to be the other starting linebackers? One is expected to be either Dwaine Thomas or Justin Dunning. Both are solid players with a good but of experience. But who will compete for the final spot on the Aggie’s front seven?
Introducing Anthony Hines III
Plano East High School sits right in between Dallas and Allen, Texas. Both are towns who have been known to produce some crazy football talent i.e. Kyler Murray, the former Aggie QB. Well, the Aggies have found some more talent from the area.
Meet Anthony Hines. 247Sports has the 4-star athlete as the 63rd ranked player in the nation, second-ranked linebacker and eighth-ranked player in the state of Texas. It goes without saying that Hines is one of the Aggies’ most exciting new recruits. At 6’3” 220, I think the freshman can make a serious impact on the defense. I’ve been watching his game film and I see a lot of things that Coach Chavis will be able to build on.
Naturally, he’s an inside backer. If you watch his junior year highlights and then go look at his senior year, it looks like Hines put on a solid 10 pounds. Honestly, I think he’ll be a starter. Talent like this usually doesn’t stay through their senior year so I’d expect Sumlin and Chavis to get as much out of the young talent.
Typically, the Aggies run a 4-3 but they don’t have a problem bringing in a fourth linebacker or nickel in the red zone or against run heavy teams like Alabama, LSU, and Arkansas. So, if he doesn’t start and Dodson is having a bad day, Hines could easily be that fourth LB and shouldn’t have a problem stepping in.
Key Strengths – Intangibles
Plays loose
The first thing I wrote down is “Plays loose.” This was after watching his junior tape. He bulked up his senior year and he didn’t play as loose, making him your stereotypical inside linebacker. Even though he lost just a little bit of quickness, he has replaced it with added strength, IQ, and toughness.
High Motor
Another thing that I really like about the kid from Plano East is his high motor. This is something that can’t be taught. You either have it or you don’t. He reminds me of Ray Lewis in this sense. Before the ball is even snap he is on his toes, waiting to react and go make a play. Then after he does make a play, he gets up screaming, begging for more. This is something that’s so important and necessary for a successful defense. This attitude spreads.
I played, (or at least tried to play), defense my senior year in high school. We had a defensive end on our team who was our tough guy. He had dreadlocks that covered his eyes and was always getting in the other team’s head. Whenever he would make a good play or get a big sack, he would come up screaming and yelling, “LET’S GO, BABY!!” That attitude and tone spread quickly and we ended up having the number one rush defense in the whole district.
Texas A&M has always had a high motor and intense player like that in the past. Von Miller, Sean Porter, Miles Garrett. This year, Armani Watts should be that guy but a wild man down on the front seven is always a good thing. Plus, Hines could become that guy for the years to come.
Instincts
Having a high motor and being excited is great, but when you pair them with natural and lighting fast instincts, well that’s even better. Hines has the instincts I’m talking about. As I study him on film, it’s clear that he was bred for this game. He naturally fills gaps and interrupts the offense like it’s just another day in the office. This is one of the major things that allows him to fill those gaps so well. These instincts give him such an advantage in a game of speed.
Key Strengths – Technique and Size
Fits Great Inside Gaps
Hines is someone who is going to make the majority of his plays in-between the tackles. This is a highly sought-after quality. His ability to read the lineman and to seem to know where they are going to go is uncanny. Many times, he is seen shooting gaps that last for less than half a second before they are supposed to be filled. Hines bursts through said gaps, causing a ruckus in the backfield.
SEC-ready strength
His strength is something that’s noteworthy as well. The extra weight has given him extra strength. When he busts through the line, sometimes he takes linemen and blocking backs with him in order to get to the QB.
Improved tackling
Lastly, there has been a vast improvement with his tackling. Now, this is something I’m going to address in his cons. Don’t let this confuse you. I am simply commenting his improvement. Did he get a whole lot better? Absolutely! But could he have still been a little better? For sure. Many times, in his junior tape, he tries to use his arms or his shoulder too much in order to secure the tackle. But looking at his senior tape, he makes a lot more secure and correct tackles. Playing against big SEC backs, this is something that will need to improve every year.
In short, he’s a big, strong kid who has a lot of potential at inside linebacker. He’s got a high motor and fits gaps like a glove. Plus, once he gets his hands on you, you’re not going anywhere.
Weaknesses
Speed
As I’ve stated, he’s put on weight. This has led to him being a nickel slower than desired. Seeing him in pursuit and having to snag guys by the ankles make me wonder if he’ll be able to run down SEC talent.
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Plays High
Even though he played high school ball in one of the most competitive parts of the state of Texas, he was still one of the more athletic players. Hines knew this and although that’s a good thing, I think he used it as an excuse sometimes. He played a little too high than what an inside linebacker should. Inside linebackers need to sink their hips and get their butts down in order to maintain leverage when making tackles or shedding blocks. It’s not uncommon to see Hines be almost standing straight up when the ball is snapped. If you’re going to try and tackle Bo Scarbrough up high, have fun in the hospital. You have to stay low in college.
Fundamentally Correct Tackling
His confidence in himself and in his abilities is, of course, something that every successful player must have. Hines had this confidence but I think it was to his disadvantage. I understand that highlight reels are meant for big exciting plays that look cool on camera, but as I stated earlier, I wish I would’ve seen just a few more fundamentally correct tackles. Looking at his senior tape versus his junior tape, there is a lot of improvement (this came with the strength). But still, I think in order for him to be as successful in college as he was in high school, he’ll have to learn that you can’t out muscle the SEC.
Next: Roshauud Paul's 2017 Recruiting profile
Closing Thoughts
Anthony Hines III is one heck of a football player, who’s only getting better. He’s been enrolled since the Spring 2017 and would’ve played in the spring game if it wasn’t for an injury. He’ll be back for the season and I think Coach John Chavis will help polish and progress this superstar to be. I know the 12th Man is excited to have him in Aggieland and we’re all supporting you Anthony Hines III. Thanks, and Gig em!