Interview: Arkansas 2017 OC Sanderson Hines Working to be One of the Best in the Nation

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

Every snap of the ball on the gridiron leads to an immediate coordinated fight with objectives and missions to be accomplished between the offense and the defense. When Robinson High School snapped the ball throughout the 2015 season, one player winning his battles time after time was Class of 2017 center Sanderson Hines.

Playing center only has one advantage, knowing and controlling when the ball will be snapped. Every other player along the line is in a ready position for the upcoming play, ready to fight off the defense without wasted movement. Centers are often at another disadvantage, depending on the defense they are playing, and that is going up against the biggest guy on the defensive line, the nose guard. Centers are responsible for keeping the snap, typically for calling out the line blocking assignments, and charged with taking on the biggest guy on the field snarling right across from him. Hines has taken on this challenge and has excelled in the process.

Hines was more the engine that helped drive the Senators 2015 season up front than just a center. Robinson posted a 9-3 mark with a lot of talent spread around the field but most of said talent was underclassmen. Along the way Hines kept senior quarterback Brennen Johnson’s jersey clean allowing him to pass for 2,282 yards with 26 touchdowns and opened up holes for all-purpose senior back TJ Hammonds (Arkansas). Hammonds rushed for over 1,300 yards with 22 touchdowns and caught 23 passes for another 661 yards with six more scores.

Robinson’s young team in 2015 will be loaded with next level talent on offense in 2016. Among the many includes all-purpose Class of 2018 back Nathan Page, all-purpose Class of 2017 Myles Fells, Class of 2017 wide receiver Koilan Jackson, Class of 2018 tight end/defensive end Hunter Swoboda and big 6’2”, 300 pound Hines leading the way.

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview, I sat down with Hines to go over his junior season, his offseason workouts, and received a recruiting news update.

Interview

Sanderson, you reel shows you mauling defensive lineman after defensive lineman last year. What are your strengths on the field as a center?

“I feel like my run blocking is my biggest strength. My power is a strength allowing me to be an inside mauler as a center, especially in high school. I’m not a bad pass blocker but run blocking is what I like to do.”

Robinson runs a lot of spread. Are you comfortable with the quarterback under center?

“I only do shotgun right now but I have practiced under center. I’m comfortable with the quarterback under center.”

Do you make the pre-snap calls for blocking?

“Last year I did not make all the calls. We had a senior guard making the calls. This year I will. Calling out Mike (middle linebacker) is the biggest part. We have a name for pass plays and we have a code name for pulling, stuff like that. I’ll call all of that stuff out. I will be the captain of the O-line next year.”

Will we see you play some defense in 2016?

“Defense is not one of my best positions. I’m really good at not getting moved. I stay on my assignment but I don’t do any moves. I’m not a good pass rusher at all. If you’re putting me on defense, I am the run stopper.”

Did you earn any individual honors at the end of your junior season?

“I earned All-Conference and All-Preps Democrat-Gazette first team offense, those were the two biggest things I earned.”

What are you working on during the offseason to improve upon for your senior year?

“Definitely my hip explosion and hand placement, those things are the two biggest things I need to work on. Hip explosion is the biggest thing in football in my opinion. Footwork is always important to work on as well. I’m getting leaner, if you are 290 lean verses 290 not so lean, the lean guy will win. I’m working on getting stronger too.”

What is your bench press, squat, and power clean max at right now?

“My bench is at 335. We have not maxed out at squat lately. Last summer I squatted 455. We do a hang clean, my clean was at 245 but I am working on that.”

What camps are you going to coming up?

“For sure I am going to the Arkansas State camp, Memphis camp, and SEMO (Southeast Missouri). Beyond that, it really depends on if I have the time. Those three camps I know I will go to. I might go to Harding, we have a lot of players that go there.”

Have you taken any unofficial visits yet?

“I took two to Arkansas games last season. I went to an Ouachita Baptist game and I went to Arkansas State about a month ago. I’m going to Memphis on April 21.”

Which schools are showing interest in you?

“Arkansas State and Memphis are showing interest. Just recently Air Force and Arkansas. I think a couple other colleges are showing interest but I cannot think of the right now.”

How did your visit to Arkansas State go?

“I did not get to see their new facilities, but everything I saw was top notch. I got to know Coach (Allen) Rudolph (offensive line coach). He had only been there for a month at that time. We have a good relationship. I’d love to have him as a coach. As far as the stadium, that was really good and I love the city. Jonesboro is my kind of city.”

When you take your visit to Memphis what will you be looking for from the campus, academics, and program?

“I really don’t know too much about Memphis. I met with a coach on staff last year, right before spring ball. They have a whole new coaching staff now. I’m really just looking to see if their facilities are nice. I have to have a connection at least with one coach so I know they know me and I know them. It has to feel like home.”

What is your GPA right now?

“I have a 2.9 but by the end of the semester it should be up to a 3.0.”

Have you taken the ACT or SAT yet?

“I recently took the ACT a second time. I got a 20 on it the first time. I qualified so that is good.”

Have you thought about what you want to major in once in college?

“I really have no idea what I want to major in. I’ve always wanted to help people when it comes to a job. My relatives, I have family that are chiropractors. My grandpa and uncles are chiropractors. My family is from northwest Arkansas. One of my uncles has a chiropractic clinic up there. That would be really fun.”

Are there any NFL players you enjoy watching play the game?

“Yeah, I love people who work their butts off. JJ Watt (Houston Texans) is one of my idols. I love his work ethic and how hard he works to get what he gets. Patrick Willis (San Francisco 49ers), before he retired, is another hard worker.”

Who has made the biggest impact on your football career?

“Coach (Brian) Maupin, definitely. He is always there for you and he always answers questions. He’s always there 100 percent. If you have recruiting problems, he’ll take care of it. He sends our info to coaches and he has helped get scholarships for people that have not gotten enough publicity. He has impacted my football life the most.”

Sanderson, thanks for your time today. Good luck with your upcoming visits and camps.

“Thank you.”

Photo credit: Kelly Brown; Sanderson Hines.

Photo credit: Kelly Brown; Sanderson Hines.