Texas A&M Football: 5 most important Aggie freshman in 2017

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2. Anthony Hines | Linebacker

4-Star, Plano East High School (Plano, Texas)

Anthony Hines is without a doubt the most highly touted linebacker that Kevin Sumlin has ever recruited. The sixth year Texas A&M head coached hasn’t been well known for his defensive success, but Hines could be good enough to begin to change that narrative in his first season in Aggieland.

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The Aggies struggled at linebacker last season, and the season before that and the season before that. They’ve not been able to get much more than role players at the position during Sumlin’s time at Texas A&M. That might cut it in the Big 12 where linebackers have act a lot more like safeties than run defenders. The SEC, on the other hand, is a physical conference predicated on running the football.

LSU absolutely obliterated the Aggie front seven in their final regular season contest last year. Texas A&M had no answers for a runner as strong and as dynamic as Derrius Guice. Hines is here to usher in a new wave of talent at the second level of the defense. His ability to get to the football and make the tackle will make him an immediate upgrade at the position.

More: Scouting report on Texas A&M freshman LB Anthony Hines

Hines joins Otaro Alaka and Tyrel Dodson as probable opening day starters for the Aggies. Defensive coordinator John Chavis needs those three to stay healthy and one or two more role players can emerge. If that happens the Aggies will be well on their way to becoming a better defense. They’d better hurry up.