Omarius Hines wasn’t expected to produce much this season after a thigh injury kept him out for three full months of offseason workouts. Just getting back into the groove during fall practice was satisfying. Actually playing in a game was a bonus.
The bonus turned out more playing time than he expected. The redshirt freshman wide receiver from Texas played nearly the entire second half and got into the flow of the offense by catching three passes for 31 yards, the third most by a Florida receiver in the game.
“It was real nice,” Hines said after Tuesday’s practice. “I was kind of nervous a little bit at the beginning but once I got the feel of it, I got going.”
Hines knows how precious playing time can be. After taking a redshirt last year, he hurt his thigh back in the spring and then over-exerted himself during a leg press workout at the beginning of the offseason, hurting the thigh again and further throwing off his development.
From budding go-to wide receiver to being forced to the sidelines would be tough for anyone, but being forced to watch people workout wasn’t something Hines enjoyed.
“It was real tough,” Hines said. “With the team, I had to be just sitting over there watching. I was just going to treatment, rehabbing and trying to get back as fast as I could.”
An injury to another part of his body wouldn’t have kept him out so long, but the legs are precious to a wide receiver. They pride themselves on speed and leaping ability, something that a sore leg hinders.
“It’s really tough because at the wide receiver position, you’re running constantly,” Hines said. “When you’re out for a while, it’s hard to get back into it.”
With the injury now behind him, Hines looks forward to continuing his progress throughout the 2009 season. The only time he even feels the thigh injury is some soreness after practice and that doesn’t prevent him from doing any drills.
If there is a silver lining to the black cloud of this injury it is that Hines actually believes he got faster. Once he came back to practice, he was surprised to run faster than ever before. Perhaps the time off and the rehab strengthened his legs.
Once he was able to practice again, Hines knew he had to work harder than anyone else to make up for lost time, plus he had to get back into the routine of daily practice. He says he has struggled some in practice and the biggest obstacle is learning the playbook and staying in playing shape.
“I was out for so much,” Hines said. “I’ve been trying to learn the plays and routes again. I’ve just got to learn the whole concept of the wide receiver position.”
Hines caught all three of his passes against Charleston Southern from redshirt sophomore quarterback John Brantley, who will take over the reigns at the position next season when Tim Tebow is gone. Hines and Florida’s other young receivers understand the importance of their relationship with Brantley. Maybe they won’t be on the same page with Brantley this year but by next season they will have to be if they intend to produce.
“It’s pretty good because we’ve been working with Johnny Brantley for the whole summer,” Hines said. “We have a good connection so far. We’ve got to keep getting better though.”
Hines is part of a trio of redshirt freshmen wide receivers that includes T.J. Lawrence and Frankie Hammond. They aren’t looked on to produce All-SEC numbers this season. Their chief duty will be to spell seniors such as Riley Cooper, David Nelson and Brandon James are gone. They all three know they will have to make the most of their limited opportunities on the playing field.
Off the field, Hines, Lawrence and Hammond are inseparable. They are roommates and there is chemistry between them but even with their deep friendship when they hit the practice field it’s all about competing and getting better.
“We are in a competition,” Hines said. “It’s football so everybody is going to be in a competition. We all just try to compete and have fun.”
When they head back to the apartment after putting in a day of practice, they talk about the future and what they have to do to be a part of future success for the Florida Gators.
“I know some day it’s going to be our turn to play, so we’re just trying to do what we can to help the team right now and learn while doing it,” Hines said. “Next year, when it’s our turn, then we’ll go ball.”