Speed Propels Hines Rushing Attack
10/1/2017 10:45:00 AM | Football
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RALEIGH, N.C. - For a track and field sprinter, nothing is more sacred than setting a new personal record. Most world-class sprinters are aware of and will chase a PR as much as the racers in the next lane.
And that's the kind of drive NC State junior Nyheim Hines, a track All-American and ACC champion, has brought from the track to the Wolfpack's backfield in the last three games.
Hines has improved on his rushing totals in each of those games setting a new personal best in each of the Pack's last three wins. First it was a new PR of 92 against Furman, then 94 touch yards in the upset win at #12 Florida State, and yet another new PR of 115 on 19 carries in Saturday's victory over Syracuse at Carter-Finley Stadium.
After two years as a flex player who was primarily used in the passing game—Hines had 63 catches for 781 yards in his first two seasons—he moved to running back this spring, filling the void left by the departed 1,000-yard rusher Matthew Dayes. Hines leads the team with 411 yards, which is 66 yards more than all the other running backs on the roster combined (if you included H-Back Jaylen Samuels among that group).
"If you know the young man, you know he's so competitive," head coach Dave Doeren said after Saturday's game. "Track guys are all about PRs and that's all he talks about. Each game is a measuring stick for him. He was (close to 100) yards last week and that probably hurt him.
"His competitiveness is elite."
It's that competitiveness that helps the 5-feet, 9-inch Hines overcome his size disadvantage in the backfield, in the passing game or on special teams.
"I am comfortable with anything they ask me to do," he said. "I'm a competitor. I hate to lose. I will do anything to help us win."
He certainly believes neither his height nor his speed are the most important things about him.
"I'm fast, but I don't really want people to know me just as a fast guy," Hines said. "I want people to know that I run with heart, and that I try to play as fast and physical as I possibly can."
Hines, and his twin sister Nyah, have been racing at NC State's Derr Track since childhood. Like former Wolfpack sprinters/wide receivers Danny Peebles and T.J. Graham, they grew up within the shadow of NC State's campus and frequently competed in youth track meets on campus.
The opportunity to keep running on that track, playing football and being near his sister is what kept Hines, a highly coveted recruit in both sports, close to his hometown of Garner for college. Nyah is also a member of the Wolfpack women's track and field team.
Through the years, NC State football has benefitted greatly from its association with the track program, going back to at least Perry Williams, a high school track champion from Hamlet, N.C., signed by Bo Rein who went on to win two Super Bowls with the New York Giants.
Both Peebles and Alvis Whitted of Hillsborough signed with the track program and won multiple ACC sprint and relay titles for head coach Rollie Geiger. Both, however, became NFL wide receivers after playing football for the Wolfpack.
For his first two seasons, Hines was following a similar path of being a speedster wide receiver. As a freshman, Hines scored at least one touchdown as a wide receiver, as a running back and as a kickoff returner. Last season, he was second on the team in receiving only to Jaylen Samuels with 43 receptions for 525 yards.
And he quickly moved into the list of best kick returners in school history. His two biggest games, in fact, have been the Pack's next opponent, Louisville, with 189 return yards, including a 100-yard kickoff return, and 169 return yards.
Now, he's joining good company as a sprinting running back. The only other NC State tailback to lead the team in rushing and also win an ACC relay championship was the legendary Ted Brown, who has held the ACC record of 4,602 rushing yards since his career ended.
Brown ran the lead-off leg in the ACC's inaugural 4x100 relay in 1978. The Pack has won that title 12 times in school history, 10 of which including at least one member of the football team in the lineup, including in 2016 and '17 titles with Hines running the first leg.
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RALEIGH, N.C. - For a track and field sprinter, nothing is more sacred than setting a new personal record. Most world-class sprinters are aware of and will chase a PR as much as the racers in the next lane.
And that's the kind of drive NC State junior Nyheim Hines, a track All-American and ACC champion, has brought from the track to the Wolfpack's backfield in the last three games.
Hines has improved on his rushing totals in each of those games setting a new personal best in each of the Pack's last three wins. First it was a new PR of 92 against Furman, then 94 touch yards in the upset win at #12 Florida State, and yet another new PR of 115 on 19 carries in Saturday's victory over Syracuse at Carter-Finley Stadium.
After two years as a flex player who was primarily used in the passing game—Hines had 63 catches for 781 yards in his first two seasons—he moved to running back this spring, filling the void left by the departed 1,000-yard rusher Matthew Dayes. Hines leads the team with 411 yards, which is 66 yards more than all the other running backs on the roster combined (if you included H-Back Jaylen Samuels among that group).
"If you know the young man, you know he's so competitive," head coach Dave Doeren said after Saturday's game. "Track guys are all about PRs and that's all he talks about. Each game is a measuring stick for him. He was (close to 100) yards last week and that probably hurt him.
"His competitiveness is elite."
It's that competitiveness that helps the 5-feet, 9-inch Hines overcome his size disadvantage in the backfield, in the passing game or on special teams.
"I am comfortable with anything they ask me to do," he said. "I'm a competitor. I hate to lose. I will do anything to help us win."
He certainly believes neither his height nor his speed are the most important things about him.
"I'm fast, but I don't really want people to know me just as a fast guy," Hines said. "I want people to know that I run with heart, and that I try to play as fast and physical as I possibly can."
Hines, and his twin sister Nyah, have been racing at NC State's Derr Track since childhood. Like former Wolfpack sprinters/wide receivers Danny Peebles and T.J. Graham, they grew up within the shadow of NC State's campus and frequently competed in youth track meets on campus.
The opportunity to keep running on that track, playing football and being near his sister is what kept Hines, a highly coveted recruit in both sports, close to his hometown of Garner for college. Nyah is also a member of the Wolfpack women's track and field team.
Through the years, NC State football has benefitted greatly from its association with the track program, going back to at least Perry Williams, a high school track champion from Hamlet, N.C., signed by Bo Rein who went on to win two Super Bowls with the New York Giants.
Both Peebles and Alvis Whitted of Hillsborough signed with the track program and won multiple ACC sprint and relay titles for head coach Rollie Geiger. Both, however, became NFL wide receivers after playing football for the Wolfpack.
For his first two seasons, Hines was following a similar path of being a speedster wide receiver. As a freshman, Hines scored at least one touchdown as a wide receiver, as a running back and as a kickoff returner. Last season, he was second on the team in receiving only to Jaylen Samuels with 43 receptions for 525 yards.
And he quickly moved into the list of best kick returners in school history. His two biggest games, in fact, have been the Pack's next opponent, Louisville, with 189 return yards, including a 100-yard kickoff return, and 169 return yards.
Now, he's joining good company as a sprinting running back. The only other NC State tailback to lead the team in rushing and also win an ACC relay championship was the legendary Ted Brown, who has held the ACC record of 4,602 rushing yards since his career ended.
Brown ran the lead-off leg in the ACC's inaugural 4x100 relay in 1978. The Pack has won that title 12 times in school history, 10 of which including at least one member of the football team in the lineup, including in 2016 and '17 titles with Hines running the first leg.
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