Hainsey strong at Rivals100 Challenge, intrigued by MSU
ATLANTA | Rivals100 offensive line prospect Robert Hainsey continues to include Michigan State on his list of favorites, but the courtship for his services is far from finished.
Participating at the Rivals100 Five-Star Challenge this weekend at Georgia Dome, Hainsey performed well against some of the top defensive line prospects in America.
“It’s not the same as playing in a game but it’s definitely good to go against good competition and get some work in,” Hainsey said of the Rivals100 Five-Star Challenge. “It’s hard because there is nothing to grab onto (playing without pads). It’s still good for technique.”
Hainsey (6-5, 276) has visited several of his favorite schools, but doesn’t appear to be close ending his recruitment.
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He says he plans to decide on a college at the Army All-American Game in early January.
“That’s a long way away, but it’s close at the same time,” Hainsey said.
Hainsey, originally of Monroeville, Pa. and now attending Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy, has a Midwestern flavor to his favorite schools, with some ACC and SEC spice thrown in.
“There’s Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Penn State, Pitt, Ohio State, Auburn, and a few others,” he said, when asked which schools he is interesting in. “Through spring break I went through all those schools. As a team we went to Auburn on a group visit.”
He has no visits planned for the near future.
“If something happens, it might be a spur-of-the-moment thing,” he said. “I’ve seen all of them multiple times. I’ve only seen Notre Dame once. I want to get back up there. That’s the only one I want to hit again.”
He has attended games at Michigan State, Penn State, Pitt and Michigan.
When asked about his impressions of Michigan State, he said: “I really like Michigan State. I think they have a great fan base. The main thing is I really love their coaches. Their coaches really care about you, and they win, they prepare you to win, they prepare you for the next level.”
On Saturday at the Rivals100 Five-Star Challenge, he took reps against several notable foes, including the nation’s No. 1-ranked player, defensive tackle Marvin Wilson of Houston.
In his lone rep against Wilson, Hainsey made first-contact with a two-handed punch, and established low position. Hainsey then lost the width of his base, but managed to keep both hands on Wilson to survive the rest of the matchup to earn a stalemate. Not bad.
In other notable match ups, Hainsey got caught lunging a bit vs No. 70-ranked Robert Beal (6-3, 217, Norcross, Ga.) for his only clear loss of the day. In the rematch, Hainsey was able to push Beal safely to the outside.
Against No. 125-ranked Darnell Ewell (6-4, 295, Norfolk, Va.) Hainsey was able to establish good hand placement, post, and discard Ewell to the outside.
In the rematch with Ewell, Hainsey used good hands to neutralize Ewell’s club-and-rip attempt, and then post and stalemate.
A stalemate is a victory for pass protection.
Hainsey reacted to each victory as if he had done that, been there before.
“I just want to prove what I can do, to whoever,” Hainsey said. “I know what I can do and my capabilities so I just want to show everybody else that.”
Hainsey is not scheduled to attend any university camps at this point.
When asked what he’ll be looking for in a school, Hainsey said:
“Somewhere that I feel at home, where I can get a great degree, where I can contribute early and get prepared for the next level.”