John Chavis and the Aggies Win Out on 2017 LB Anthony Hines
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @HogManInLA
The recruiting sweep stakes for one of the top inside linebackers in the nation came to a close on Friday when Anthony Hines verbally committed to Texas A&M.
If scholarship offers were a direct line to recruiting stars, Plano East High School linebacker Anthony Hines would be a five-star recruit about four times over. The 6-2.5, 222 pound, standout amassed a reported 90 scholarship offers before putting an end to the process by tabbing the Aggies his school of the future.
Since his freshman season when he put a stop to 125 plays, college coaches have been aware of Hines. His game stepped up during his junior campaign tallying 205 tackles. The stat lines gets a little more absurd finding out he had 24 tackles for a loss, nine sacks, seven quarterback hurries, and four forced fumbles all in just 10 games played.
The Panthers went 6-5 in 2016 with Hines saving his best for last. The Lone Star State talent had 245 total tackles, 138 solo, with 38 tackles for a loss, six sacks, two interceptions, and five forced fumbles.
Of the 90 scholarship offers compiled, Hines took five official visits starting with Texas A&M (Sept. 2), Penn State (Sept. 16), Florida (Oct. 15), UCLA (Oct. 21), and the all-too important last visit to Ohio State (Nov. 5). Hines shared his decision on Twitter writing, “I’m coming home…” The post was accompanied with a statement:
Aggies defensive coordinator John Chavis has pulled together a very solid recruiting class, especially at linebacker. Hines joins four-star IMG Academy linebacker Santino Marchiol and three-star Dallas area talent Devodrick Johnson.
The Aggies have the No. 6 ranked recruiting class in the nation per 247Sports, No. 4 in the SEC. Rivals sees A&M’s class as the fifth best in the nation with 10 four-star recruits and 14 three-star talents.
Texas A&M 2017 Verbal Commitment List (24)
SS Derrick Tucker, 6-2, 194, Manvel HS, Manvel, TX
CB Myles Jones, 6-4, 175, Magnolia West HS, Magnolia, TX
CB Devin Morris, 6-0, 175, Caldwell HS, Caldwell, TX
LB Anthony Hines, 6-2.5, 222, Plano East HS, Dallas, TX
LB Devodrick Johnson, 6-1, 210, Kimball HS, Dallas, TX
LB Santino Marchiol, 6-2, 222, IMG Academy, Bradenton, FL
DE Tyree Johnson, 6-3.5, 247, St. John’s College HS, Washington DC
DE Ondario Robinson, 6-3.5, 236, Hutto HS, Hutto, TX
DT Jayden Peevy, 6-6, 279, Bellaire HS, Bellaire, TX
OT Carson Green, 6-5, 250, Southlake Carrol HS, Southlake, TX
OT Jared Hocker, 6-5, 295, Birdville HS, North Richland Hills, TX
OT Grayson Reed, 6-5, 295, Cypress Creek HS, Houston, TX
OT Adrian Wolford, 6-5, 310, Meeker HS, Meeker, OK
TE Keynel McZeal, 6-3, 224, Port Neches-Groves, Port Neches, TX
QB Connor Blumrick, 6-6, 203, Pearland HS, Pearland, TX
QB Kellen Mond, 6-2.5, 201, IMG Academy, Bradenton, FL
QB/WR Roshauud Paul, 6-0, 170, Bremond HS, Bremond, TX
WR Jhamon Ausbon, 6-2.5, 217, IMG Academy, Bradenton, FL
WR Camron Buckley, 6-1, 186, Cedar Hill HS, Cedar Hill, TX
WR Hezekiah Jones, 6-0, 193, Stafford HS, Stafford, TX
ATH Keldrick Carper, 6-3, 185, Plain Dealing HS, Plain Dealing, LA
ATH Camron Horry, 6-5, 261, Taylor HS, Katy, TX
ATH Jacob Kibodi, 6-2, 198, Christian Life, Baton Rouge, LA
ATH Debione Renfro, 6-2, 180, Pearland HS, Pearland, TX
Photo credit: Bleacher Report; Anthony Hines with Aggies head coach Kevin Sumlin.