One of the nation’s premiere Defensive End recruits in the 2012 recruiting class committed to BYU on Monday, via press release. That was Davis High Dart, Troy Hinds. Hinds had offers from the likes of Nebraska, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Georgia Tech, and Michigan.
This was Hinds’ Press Release he issued out to the media on Monday.
"After much thought and deliberation I have made my decision where I will be getting my education and playing football. My Dad and I met with Coach Mendenhall in his office this morning and I committed to him that I will be enrolling at Brigham Young University after I complete my LDS church mission. I’m very excited about the academic, social and football opportunities I will have at BYU.I want to express my sincere appreciation to Coach Whittingham and Coach Hill at the University of Utah along with Coach Anderson at Stanford, Coach Tupoi at Cal, the coaches at Notre Dame, Coach Brown at Nebraska along with all of the rest of the wonderful coaches I have met along the way. They have all been very kind and professional in the way they have recruited me. I have made good friendships with many coaches across the country during the process and I hope to continue those relationships over time. It was a difficult decision saying no to the great Pac-12 schools and others that have recruited me but in the end I know in my heart that BYU is the best school for me.I would also like to thank my Mom and Dad along with coach Ryan Bishop for their support throughout the entire three-year recruiting process. It was a fun ride but I’m relieved and excited that I know I’m going to be playing football and getting my education at BYU.Troy HindsDavis High SchoolKaysville, Utah"
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Hinds becomes the 16th commitment for BYU in the 2012 class. Prior to the Hinds commitment, BYU was ranked 36th in the Scout.com recruiting class rankings. That will surely change with the commitment of Hinds now in the fold. Hinds is listed as a four-star recruit by Scout.com.
This commitment is huge for BYU. Not only because Hinds is a heralded recruit, but what it means going forward for BYU as a football Independent.
One of the fears by many outsiders looking at BYU’s move to Independence was how could they compete in recruiting in their own state, now with Utah in a BCS conference (Pac-12)? That has proven to be a non-issue with recruits, as Head Coach Bronco Mendenhall proclaimed would be the case back when BYU made the bold move.
BYU will never have issues getting talent in the state of Utah. The Hinds commitment just further proves it. Hinds is one of the highest-profile recruits this state has ever produced. Would argue the only player with more recruiting hype than Hinds would be Highland High product, Haloti Ngata (DT) who was a BYU commit but de-commited on Signing Day in 2002 and went to Oregon. Now is a NFL Pro Bowler with the Baltimore Ravens.
The fascinating aspect of the Hinds commitment is that many will just say he is mormon, thus making him a lock at BYU all along. There was some serious doubt BYU was going to get him to commit. Had BYU remained a member of the Mountain West Conference, I would say Troy Hinds is likely not considering BYU as highly. But as an Independent, playing on national TV every week against some of College Football’s best programs and in the best venues; it is the perfect compliment to a social and education environment that fits perfect for a LDS athlete who has plans of a mission. There is no other university or program that has what BYU can offer to an LDS athlete. It really is a no-brainer anymore.
Players who commit to BYU are as excited as ever with now being Independent. Reading tweets that BYU commits, Dylan Collie (WR) and Butch Pau’u (LB) were recruiting Hinds to come to BYU is refreshing. In this day and age of recruits dragging out the process and making National Signing Day in February a individual spectacle for themselves, the type of young men that commit to BYU have bigger aspirations in mind. BYU has never had success with getting recruits who wait past January for a commitment. Hinds pulled the trigger early, before his Senior season, and it could possibly set off another ripple effect with other recruits BYU is targeting.
This coaching staff that was pieced together this past off-season continues to show the fire and up-beat enthusiasm that was much needed going into this new era of BYU Football. Hinds was wined and dined by some of College Football’s elite, but I would argue there wasn’t a more impressive collection of individuals than the staff at BYU. They are doing wonders out on the recruiting scene. Taking the program to another level with the talent that is coming in. And Hinds is just a further testament to their relentless work ethic.
Watching Hinds’ highlight packages you can’t help but be impressed with the kid’s relentless motor, and sideline-to-sideline running ability. He covers the whole field when he plays, and is a sure-fire tackler that doesn’t let anyone get by him.
Here are some highlights from Hinds’ Junior season (2010) at Davis.
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