4/28/2018 football Edit

Nyheim Hines is drafted in the fourth round by the Indianapolis Colts

Matt Carter • TheWolfpackCentral

Editor

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NC State running back Nyheim Hines did not have to wait long to hear his name called on day three of the NFL Draft. He was selected with the fourth pick in the fourth round and No. 104 overall by the Indianapolis Colts, reuniting him with former NCSU quarterback Jacoby Brissett.

ESPN NFL analyst Louis Riddick noted that Hines and the Colts are a good match.

"This kid is going to fit in perfectly for all the different kind of formations and the way they want to attack you on offense,” Riddick said.

Hines, a local product and former star at Garner (N.C.) High, started his career playing more receiver than running back, catching 63 passes for 781 yards and a touchdown in his first two seasons. He moved to running back in 2017 and carried 197 times for 1,113 yards and 12 touchdowns, leading to his decision to enter the NFL Draft early.

Hines is also a kick returner, running two kickoffs and one punt for touchdowns in his Wolfpack career. He doubled as a track star at NC State, and his 4.38-second 40-yard dash at the NFL combine was the fastest among running backs there.

ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. compared Hines to “a poor man Darren Sproles,” referring to the 13-year veteran that has spent the last four seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles. Sproles has 19,164 career all-purpose yards.

NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah compared Hines to “a little more explosive version of Jerome Harrison,” who played seven years in the NFL and rushed for a personal best 862 yards in 2009 with the Cleveland Browns.

ESPN’s Todd McShay noted that Hines’ game starts with his explosiveness.

“You’re talking about a versatile offensive player — a guy that you can line up in the slot, you can hand him the ball off in the backfield, you can split him out wide, you can use him in the return game,” McShay said. “The Indianapolis Colts needs weapons, and [quarterback] Andrew Luck just got one.”

NFL Network’s Mike Mayock was not surprised to see Hines go in the fourth round.

“He’s a third-down, change-of-pace guy, has some return specialist in him,” Mayock noted. “He’s basically a space player — he’s played slot, he’s played in the backfield, get him the ball in space. Fourth round is typically where those kind of players go.

The Colts lost its leading rusher from a year ago in Frank Gore, who signed with the Miami Dolphins. Indianapolis was also 22nd out of 32 teams in the NFL in rushing yards per game a season ago.

Indianapolis head coach Frank Reich said the Colts targeted Hines from the outset of day three.

"We did have our eye on Nyheim when the day started," Reich confirmed. "He does have that kind of explosiveness, that rare speed, that elite speed and to be able to have the versatility to move him around, not just at running back but put him in the slot. We’ll do a lot of different things offensively to get him the ball in open field and use that elite speed."

Hines is the fourth NC State player to be selected thus far. Defensive end Bradley Chubb was chosen fifth overall in the first round by the Denver Broncos, while defensive tackles B.J. Hill (New York Giants) and Justin Jones (Los Angeles Chargers) both went in the third round.