This weekend, Jack Hines will be making an official visit to Rutgers football. It will be another chance for Hines to connect with the Big Ten program, a school that he says is in regular and steady contact with him.
A class of 2024 prospect, Hines checks in at 6-foot-7, 280-pound offensive lineman and plays his high school football at Avon Old Farms (Avon, CT). One of the top programs in New England, Avon Old Farms that finished last season 6-3
In early February, Rutgers football offered Hines, becoming the sixth Power Five offer for the offensive tackle alongside Boston College, Florida, Kentucky, Louisville, Pittsburgh, Wake Forest and West Virginia. He also holds other offers including Liberty, Marshall, UMass, Old Dominion, SMU and Temple among others.
His relationship with offensive line coach Pat Flaherty and offensive line assistant Scott Vallone has been a key part of the recruiting process for the offensive tackle.
“I am really excited to get around the players and just get to know them more and ask them how they like Rutgers and the coaches,” Hines told Rutgers Wire on Thursday.
“I’m a big connection guy, and coach Vallone and coach Flats (Flaherty) did a really good job building a good relationship with me. I really believe also that Rutgers can be a great football and I think they’re building something special here.”
Hines has been vocal about his relationship and respect for Flaherty, who comes to Rutgers after two decades coaching in the NFL. Flaherty is among the most highly respected positional coaches in NFL history, having won two Super Bowl titles with the New York Giants as their offensive line coach.
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“We have a good connection, I can tell he loves football,” Hines said.
“But he also talks about life too. He has done a really good job communicating with me and just getting to know me better as a player and person.”
Rutgers is doing well with Hines, who is a consensus three-star and one of the top 10 players in Connecticut. They are one of the two programs that he says are distinguishing themselves in his recruitment in terms of attention and showing him love.
“I would say Wake Forest and Rutgers both are showing a lot of love,” Hines said.
“Both these schools have made me feel like a priority for them.”
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