One of Andrew Hine’s first Army football memories was watching the Black Knights battle Oklahoma, his parents’ alma mater, in 2018.
Hine’s father talked about Army’s offense and how “scary good” the Black Knights’ offensive line was during the overtime thriller against Kyler Murray and the Sooners.
”I was pretty much hooked on Army football after that,” said Hine, a junior offensive lineman from Waukee (Iowa) High School. “I’ve been watching Army football all my life.”
Now, Hine will get his opportunity to play for Army. Hine committed to offensive line coach Mike Viti and coach Jeff Monken after watching the team’s Black and Gold spring game in person.
”They were both very excited,” Hine said. “It was exactly the reaction you hope for when you think about committing.”
Hine, who is 6-foot-4 and 270 pounds, can play any position on the offensive line. He was a second-team, all-state selection as a junior. Hine is a two-time state wrestling qualifier at 285 pounds. Air Force and Wyoming also offered Hine.
Hine’s first visit to West Point started the day before Army’s spring game. He sat in Army’s offensive line position meetings, watched the team’s walkthrough, visited the weight room and chatted with Viti, Monken and several other coaches.
“I just felt a good connection right from the beginning,” Hine said. “The next day as we went through the tours and presentations I just had an overwhelming feeling that Army was the place I was supposed to be. By the time we are dinner that night I was ready to tell coach Viti I wanted to commit.”
Hines received an Army offer from new tight ends coach Seth Hestness in early March. Conversations continued with Hestness over the next month.
“I’ve always been interested in the military and military history as well so West Point seemed a natural fit for me,” Hine said. “I’m just really excited to be committed to West Point as a student and a football player.”
