John Hines : Football means everything to me. It got me in school for free and it led me to do what I love at the collegiate level.
Joe Gaiter: Where did you grow up and how was your childhood?
John Hines: I grew up in Atlanta, GA and moved to Montgomery, AL when I was 10 years old. I had a pretty much normal childhood. I was always active in sports.
Joe Gaiter: What are your fondest memories about Park Crossing High School?
John Hines : My most fondest memories at Park Crossing were beating our rivalry team carver in the first year we were a varsity team and this second one was leading my team in sacks my senior year and going to the playoff.
Joe Gaiter: What made you pursue on football and stop playing basketball?
John Hines: In all honesty, I started getting offers in football my junior year. I had to be real with myself. I was a 6’5 power forward and I know that wasn’t getting me nowhere.
Joe Gaiter: Tell us about your recruitment experience.
John Hines: My recruitment experience out of high school was not anything major. I was a 2-star recruit with a couple of D-1 offers.
Joe Gaiter: How was Juco life at Southwest Mississippi Community College?
John Hines: It was a humbling experience. It made me realize I had to get my mind right to get where I want to be. And that was a D-1 university where I was supposed to have been out of high school.
Joe Gaiter: What made you choose Troy University?
John Hines: I felt like Troy was the best fit for me at the time in my recruitment. It was close to home and they were showing the most love out of all of the other offers I had. The atmosphere was better than what I thought when I took a visit.
Joe Gaiter: What makes you a great Defensive End?
John Hines: My length and speed helps me a lot because I am lighter than most of my opponents so I use them two to the best of my advantage.
Joe Gaiter: Troy was 5-7 last season. What went wrong?
John Hines: We just didn’t do what we was supposed to do.
Joe Gaiter: Where and with whom are you working out during the off-season?
John Hines: I go to whoever is open such as Shock Pt or Madhouse Training.
Joe Gaiter: Do you feel Juco players play sports differently?
John Hines: I personally think Juco players are hungrier than the players that went straight to a university because they actually had to struggle more.
Joe Gaiter: What motivates you?
John Hines: My family and just me knowing I have a good chance of going to the league.
Joe Gaiter: What is your major and how do you plan on using it?
John Hines: I majored in Social Science. I graduated now and if I don’t go to the league, I will go back to school and pick up a welding trade.
Joe Gaiter: Who are some athletes we need to keep on our radar?
John Hines: Carltin Martial, Kaylon Geiger, and Will Choloh.
Joe Gaiter: Tell us about your support system.
John Hines: I have a real big support system mind of too many people to name but my family are real big sport supporters.
Joe Gaiter: Do you have any regrets?
John Hines : The only regret I have is not playing defensive end my whole life. I feel like I would of known a lot more about the position before I got to the collegiate level because I was kind of behind. I ended up catching on quick.
Joe Gaiter: What is your untold story?
John Hines: My untold story is that I had torn all the ligaments in my knee my sophomore year in my second game, I had to sit out almost two years and people lost faith in me saying that I was not gone be the same when I came back.
Joe Gaiter:What do you want your legacy to be?
John Hines: When people see Hines Jr. on the back of that jersey they gone know what’s gone happen when we step on the field.
Joe Gaiter: Final Words?
John Hines : Do not ever let anybody tell you what you can and cannot do.
Joe Gaiter: Shout outs?
John Hines: I just want to shout out the people who been with me through all my ups and downs through my football journey and kept believing in me.
Twitter: nopressurejohn1
Instagram: NopressureJohn
Facebook: John Hines
John Hines, Jr., Troy University, Interview with Joe Gaiter was last modified: May 26th, 2020 by Joseph Gaiter
