Deerfield fullback Landon Hinds distinctly remembers the end of his junior season.
“I saw the seniors leaving the locker room and realized it would be the last time they would play football,” he said. “In one year’s time, that would be me. I (resolved) to work to be the best that I could be.”
Hinds always was a good worker, but he took it to a new level this offseason. It would be an exaggeration to say the weight room was his second home — but not by much. He worked out before school at 6:30 a.m. and returned after school for another punishing workout.
“He takes his time in the weight room very seriously,” Deerfield coach Steve Winiecki said. “He not only (concentrates) on himself, but he enjoys seeing other people have success.”
Hinds, who added about 20 pounds to his 5-foot-8, 195-pound frame, has been no fun to tackle through Deerfield’s first two games. The Warriors opened with a 15-0 victory over Zion-Benton on Aug. 31, a game in which Hinds gained 124 yards and rushed for two scores.
On the road at St. Viator on Friday, the Warriors dropped a 41-13 decision. Hinds carried the ball 18 times for 90 yards.
“I’m not at all surprised with his (success),” Winiecki said. “He’s put in the work to have a heck of a year.”
To fuel his workouts, Hinds forced himself to eat a massive number of calories. He kept it healthy, though, with 1,500-calorie breakfasts featuring protein shakes, eggs, bagels and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
He also spent extra time with fullbacks coach Florin Mitran, who tweaked his approach to weight lifting and helped him develop a better understanding of his position. Mitran said he always enjoys working with Hinds.
“He’s so dedicated and just relentless in his pursuit to be the best back that he can be,” Mitran said. “No matter what you tell him, he goes out and does it. For him, it’s always about what can he can do to become better.”
Hinds, who said Deerfield’s offensive line is playing well as a unit, also has opportunities to contribute on the other side of the ball. Although he doesn’t play every snap, he makes sure that his presence is felt from the linebacker position.
“The thing that stands out the most (at linebacker) is how well he changes directions and runs to the ball,” Winiecki said.
In addition to the physical aspect of hitting people on defense, Hinds enjoys the mental challenge.
“There’s a lot more studying about what the offense is trying to do,” he said. “At linebacker, you really need to work your butt off.”
Whether in the weight room, the film room or on the practice field, Hinds will keep doing just that.
