Interview: Arkansas 2017 OC Sanderson Hines Shares UCA Commitment Story

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

Years of hard work on the practice field, in the weight room, during games, camps, and in the classroom all came to a thrilling conclusion on Thursday, Jan. 9, for Class of 2017 center Sanderson Hines when the University of Central Arkansas offered the in-state recruit. The offer was met with a near immediate verbal commitment. Even though the offer to commitment was quick, the process to that point was not quick and was never a sure thing.

Hines worked and honed his craft with Robinson High School becoming one of the better linemen in the state of Arkansas in his class. The Senators posted a 9-3 season in 2015 and then upped their game in 2016 making a three-game run into the playoffs before falling 35-28 to eventual state champs Warren ending their schedule 12-2. Robinson steamrolled through their schedule posting a total of 590 points while limiting the opposition to 214 points scored. The anchor on the offensive line blowing open holes for lead running back Myles Fells and the cog in the middle keeping quarterback Hunter Eskola’s jersey clean was their 6-2, 285 pound, center.

From the off-season and throughout the Senators’ 2016 schedule, college coaches at all levels were taking a look at Hines. Central Arkansas along with Arkansas State, Memphis, Navy, Henderson State, and Ouachita Baptist were just a few of the teams that kept a close eye on the 2015 first team All-Conference and first team All-Preps Democrat-Gazette performer.

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview, I sat down with Hines after his commitment to the Bears to find out how is recruiting process led him to commit to UCA and the events that playing into that moment.

Interview

Sanderson, first, congratulations on your commitment to UCA.

“Thank you.”

Before we get into that, update me on your senior season. How did your skill set improve during your senior season?

“Before the season it was apparent that I had improved. Last year I used my head to block and I would lean, I was off-balanced. I focused on keeping my base this year, when they would go for the ball I would plant them. Once I had my block I would finish it.”

You blocked for a 3,000-yard passer for Hunter Eskola and helped pave holes for over 2,600 yards on the ground with Myles Fells getting the bulk of it with 928 yards. Which do you do better now, pass or run block?

“I do considered myself well balanced. I’m good at everything in my opinion. I would say I like doing the outside zone run plays the best. That was what I was really good at and that is what caught the college coaches’ attention.”

Did you earn any post season honors in 2016?

“Yes. I was All-Conference and All-Preps Democrat-Gazette first team offense again in 2016.”

Okay, let’s set the recruiting table. The Senators are having a fantastic season. Which schools were showing interest in you throughout 2016?

“I went to a UCA camp over the summer. Coach (Nathan) Brown, the Bears offensive coordinator, said they were really interested in me. I went to a UL-Monroe (Louisiana) and a couple of other camps too. Henderson State took interest then. They had a coaching change. A coach at Henderson switched schools. Then another coach came in, that was who I thought would be my first offer. They offered Week 12, the week before Thanksgiving.

“I was getting a lot of letters from teams like UCA, Harding, Ouachita Baptist – a lot of D-II schools. Interest from Memphis fizzled out. Midway through the season Arkansas State hit me up. They offered me a preferred walk-on spot. That was my first offer from a four-year school. I went to one of their games. That was for the feel. In my mind I knew I could not go there if they did not offer me a scholarship. The staff there is fantastic. I was highly interested in them for sure had they offered me a scholarship.”

You took an unofficial visit to Arkansas State, did you visit any other schools?

“I went to UCA, Henderson State, and I think that is it.”

The big question, what led you to commit to UCA?

“I liked the campus during my visit. I was thinking this is not a bad place to go to college if they offered me. My mom went to school there. I had been there a couple of times and liked it. I went to a camp there my junior year too. I really liked the campus.”

You posted your commitment Thursday night, is that when you actually committed?

“Yes. I was offered Thursday night and I committed Thursday night. I had made up my mind. They had scheduled a visit before Christmas but we had to reschedule it the Friday after Christmas break. It snowed that day, we were out of school. Coach Brown called me up saying he can still come over for a home visit.

“Coach (Steve) Campbell (head coach) and Coach Brown sat down with me. They said we really want you as a center. Right now we need to wait for some things to play out. That was the basics. They said ‘if we do offer you it will be a full-ride. We really like you.’ I immediately connected with both coaches. It was a good experience when I spoke with them.”

The offer came in on Thursday night. How did all of that play out?

“Coach Brown texted me to be ready earlier in the day for Coach Campbell’s phone call. Coach Campbell called me around 8:30. He said ‘we are offering you a scholarship.’ At that point I was already in love with the school. It was a perfect school for me and only 45 minutes away from my house. I said, “Coach I want to commit right now.” It was a done deal.”

How did Coach Campbell react to your commitment?

“I was upstairs when I was talking to him on the phone. I ran down to my parents. I was still talking to him. I had said I wanted to commit. He asked ‘are you sure?’ I nodded at my parents. They said yes and I said yes. We had already talked about it.”

How did you feel at that moment when you committed knowing you had achieved your goal?

“I was definitely really excited. I had been thinking about it for a long time. When he called, I was not nervous until he said he was going to offer me. Talking to Coach (Brian) Maupin (Robinson coach), I told him I would pray for the best but prepare for the worst. I told him if they do offer I will probably take it. When he offered I got butterflies.”

What are you doing to celebrate your commitment?

“We are going to my favorite restaurant, Panda Garden.”

When do you take your official visit to UCA?

“Jan. 20.”

What are you looking forward to with the visit?

“I want to get to know the coaches more. I’m not sure what all we will do, but I hope to talk to some of the players, my new teammates from my class, and some of the professors. I just want to get to know everyone. I am already comfortable with the campus.”

Do you still plan to take your other visits before National Signing Day?

“No, I do not. I am done with recruiting. I am going to UCA.”

Are you going to help out with recruiting for UCA?

“I don’t know. If the coaches ask me to I will. After I committed Luke (Hales), Greenwood’s quarterback who is being recruited by UCA, messaged me about my commitment. He asked me if we were going to be teammates.”

Last question, what is a lasting memory that you will have about playing football for the Senators?

“Gosh, you know I played in 47 games. That is a big question. Honestly, there are so many things. This has nothing to do with me, but the most excited I was on the field was when we played Nashville. Koilan (Jackson – Arkansas commit) jumped seven yards to get a first down. It was on a fourth-and-15 play off a reverse. That is a play I will remember. It did not have that much to do with me but it was a big play.

“As a team, one of the greatest moments as a Senator was when we all went to a boot camp at Camp Robinson for a few days. It was tough, but it was great to experience that with my teammates. That is something I will never forget.”

Sanderson, congratulations again on your commitment to UCA and thanks for your time today.

“Thank you.”

Please help keep RecruitingNewsGuru.com FREE!

If RNG has helped you, a friend, or a family member through an article, video, or stylized interview with our countless hours of free promotion for high school, junior college, and college athletes – please donate. Any amount is appreciated!

Photo credit: Randy Turner; No. 76 Sanderson Hines gets a pancake block.

Photo credit: Randy Turner; No. 76 Sanderson Hines pre-snap.

Photo credit: Jerry Hines; Sanderson (right) at UCA (2016).