Pelham defensive back Alvin Hines says Auburn is still his favorite, but he plans to soon turn his attention to his senior season and away from recruiting.
“Auburn is still right up top in my mind,” Hines, on the ESPN 150 Watch List, told AuburnUndercover.com. “Nothing has really changed at all.”
Hines said he will probably make a final decision late in his senior season or after it is over.
“I’ve enjoyed the recruiting process, but when the season starts, my focus has to switch to the field and helping my team win,” Hines said. “I’ll probably make a commitment toward the end of the season, like December or so. During the season, I can’t worry about that kind of thing. I just need to go out on the field and perform to the best of my ability.”
Hines said he has yet to set up any official visits, but he is certain one of them will be to Auburn.
“I know for sure that I’ll definitely be setting one up to Auburn,” Hines said. “That is a definite.”
Hines, 6 feet and 195 pounds, said nothing changed after he went to Alabama for the Tide’s final summer camp earlier this month.
“It was fun,” he said, “but nothing has changed in my mind.”
Hines said he plans on taking all five of his official visits.
“I’ll probably visit the schools that have offered me so far, plus one more school,” Hines said. “I want to see some of the places I’ve never gotten the chance to see, because this is a one-time opportunity.”
Hines has scholarship offers from Auburn, Kentucky, Stanford and Central Florida.
Hines, who had 80 tackles, one interception and broke up six passes as a junior, has high expectations for himself and for his team in the coming season.
“Our team doesn’t feel like we are considered one of the top teams in our region because of teams like Spain Park, Hoover, and Vestavia,” Hines said, “but I think that we are going to have a great year this year and prove we are a top team. The goal is to win the state championship. I have high expectations for myself as well. I always want to be the best, and my teammates look to me for leadership. I have to perform well.”
ESPN, Scouts Inc. evaluation: Hines is a fluid safety who carries his 195 pounds well. Shows great awareness from the free safety position. Reads the field while backpedaling off the snap, checking the releases of the wideouts and reacting accordingly. Attacks the line of scrimmage when he reads run. Takes proper angles and maintains outside-in leverage. He's a physical tackler who usually gets his hat across the front of a ball carrier. Shows good presence, instincts and route recognition against the pass. Likes to be physical and separate a receiver from the ball. Displays good hand-eye coordination and makes some acrobatic interceptions. Has soft hands and playmaking skills after the interception. Has great body control and the ability to change directions without losing much speed. Takes good pursuit angles when the ball breaks contain or an underneath receiver makes the catch. Can play center field in a three-deep zone and is equally effective in two-deep coverage. Seems to be his team's take-charge guy in the secondary. Can make proper pre-snap checks. Hines is limited only by a lack of pure speed. He isn't a burner, but he's a quick reactor who should be a very solid college player.
