The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1083898
BY JOHN BORTON T here are moments when a head coach knows a player is just different. Tim Hardy, head coach at Greater Atlanta Christian in Nor- cross, Ga., certainly knew that about standout lineman Christopher Hin- ton well before this year's All-Ameri- can Bowl. But a single exchange from the early January contest in San An- tonio crystallized it for him. Hardy coached in the game, and found himself jogging into the half- time locker room beside his 6-4, 285-pound defensive lineman. "I said, 'Hey man, you're doing a great job, how's it going?'" Hardy recounted. "He goes, 'Coach, I'm go- ing against the best players I've ever played against. They're really good — and I'm loving every minute of it.' "I'm like, man, you want to talk a b o u t t h e p e r- f e c t c o m m e n t ! You know what I mean? This is an- other level, and I am thriving! "It's awesome. To me, that's why he's special. He's ready for more, a n d h e w a n t s more: 'Here we go, let's do it.'" Let's go do it, i n d e e d . H i n t o n will be doing it in The Big House, in front of crowds at or approaching 115,000, and he's fully anticipating loving every minute of that as well. Hardy — and for that matter, the college football recruiting world — figures Hinton can handle the next uptick in competition. Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh calls him a "five-star type of player," and rel- ishes the task of U-M's coaches mold- ing him. In fact, Harbaugh recalled a conver- sation with Hinton's father from the recruiting trail that will stick with him throughout Hinton's career and be- yond. Harbaugh noted on his 'Attack Each Day' podcast: "Hinton's dad pulled me aside during a visit once and asked if I knew anything about curling. I told him I watch it more than any of the other Olympic sports. "His father explained that Chris is the puck, and as the parents, they slide it down the ice, and that I'm the broom — I need to manipulate it into the bull's-eye. "That was the best analogy I'd ever heard. If that puck goes in the wrong direction or sideways, there is little chance for success." That's some siz- able curling stone, one that could m a k e a n e a r l y impact with the proper brushing up. Hardy insisted Hinton is already quick, balanced and coordinated, well beyond just a beefy body to take up space in the middle of a defen- sive line. "He is more than just a big man," Hardy said. "He is a big athlete. It's so much fun to watch him with his hands. He has ex- ceptional hand-eye coordination, and knows how to use those big, strong hands in an effective way. "When you see him power off the ball and be explosive and get his STATISTICS Year Tackles TFL Sacks 2018 49 9.5 6.5 2017 39 — 2 2016 70 — — HONORS • Was named to MaxPreps' Small School All-America first-team squad in 2018. • Selected to The Atlanta Journal- Constitution and Georgia Athletic Coaches Association All-State first- team in 2017 and 2018. • In 2018, was honored as a Super 11 selection by The Atlanta Journal- Constitution as one of Georgia's best high school players. • Named first-team All-State by USA Today in 2018, after being a second- team choice in 2017. • Named to the Gwinnett County Su- per 6 and its Defensive Lineman of the Year by The Gwinnett Daily Post in 2018. • 2018 Lineman of the Year in Region 7AAA, an award voted on by coaches. • Tabbed as a MaxPreps first-team Sophomore All-American in 2016. RECRUITMENT • Committed to Michigan on Aug. 5, 2017. • His offers included Georgia, Stan- ford, Alabama, Ohio State and USC, among others. • Recruited by safeties coach Chris Partridge. CHRISTOPHER HINTON DEFENSIVE TACKLE 6-4 • 285 GREATER ATLANTA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL JOHNS CREEK, GA. RANKINGS STARS NAT. POS. STATE ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 15 2 3 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 47 4 8 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 48 5 9 2019 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE 2019 Projection Depth is going to be quite thin at defensive tackle heading into the 2019 season, meaning Hinton is go- ing to have to be ready to contrib- ute. With only Michael Dwumfour and Carlo Kemp on the roster as re- turning contributors inside, some- one is going to have step up and Hinton is as physically ready as an incoming freshman can be. He, along with early enrolled Mazi Smith, will likely both be called on to provide depth if nothing else. Hinton needs to be ready and likely will be based on his work ethic, combination of size and athleticism, and phenomenal athletic genes. MARCH 2019 THE WOLVERINE 33 READY FOR MORE Five-Star Christopher Hinton Embraces The Next Level Hinton was ranked as a top-50 prospect by all three major recruiting services. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM