The Rise of Dylan Haines

[Lukus Alderman]

When Charlie Strong was hired as the new head coach of the University of Texas, it signaled new beginnings for many people within the program. Everyone on the roster had to earn their spot and their snaps. Changes were made within the first few months, including suspensions and dismissals, which opened up opportunities for some athletes that hadn't taken a meaningful snap or even seen the field in a live game setting.

When the safety position lost an incumbent starter, Josh Turner, to at least a one game suspension, it opened up the door for the second and third team backups to try to earn some playing time. Adrian Colbert, Edwin Freeman, Eric Huhn and Kevin Vacarro were names that immediately came to mind when thinking of possible replacements. While those names were being plugged in by prognosticators who hadn't even watched a single snap of practice, redshirt sophomore Dylan Haines was slowly working his way up the depth chart.

An Austin native, Haines was a star on offense, defense, and special teams for the Lago Vista Vikings - a three year letterman who played safety, wide receiver and kicker. As a senior, Haines racked up awards for his outstanding play on the field, including first team all-district honors in all three positions that he played as well as Special Teams POY for his work as the kicker.

Dylan's talent presumably stems from his bloodlines. His father, John Haines, was a defensive tackle for the Longhorns from 1980-1983. He continued his football career into the NFL, playing for the Colts and Vikings. Sandra, Dylan's mom, was also an athlete as she was a member of the Longhorn track and field team from 1976-1978.

Now Haines follows in his parents' footsteps as he attempts to make his own mark on UT athletics. As a preferred walk-on, Dylan has the chance to become one of the very few non-scholarship athletes that not only make a spot on the roster, but actually take meaningful snaps for one of the top Universities in America.

There are still plenty of practices and reps to be had by every potential defensive back on the practice field for fall camp. As Charlie Strong noted recently in regards to roster spots, it's still too early to tell how things will shake out.

Turner will return from his suspension at some point and one or more of the scholarship safeties may move up on the depth chart. But don't count the 6'1", 195 lb defensive back out. If he's made it this far, who's to say he can't keep going?

This post has been promoted to an article

 

[Matt Cotcher]

Great piece Lukus. Very well done!

 

[Juan]

Nice work Lukus

 

[primal defense]

Thanks, good post. I can't remember a non punter or kicker going from walk on to start the season.

Walk-on Haines rising in Texas fall camp

AUSTIN, Texas -- If you'd told Alan Haire years ago this is how it would play out, he would've chuckled

Dylan Haines, a walk-on legacy from little Lago Vista High, pushing for a starting job on Texas' defense?

"I would've said, 'Aw, come on now ... that's going to be a stretch,'" Haire said.

The Lago Vista head coach couldn't help but marvel Thursday at the fact Haines even got this far. But indeed, this is getting real. When the Longhorns took the field Monday for their first fall practice, Haines was a member of the No. 1 defense.

The sophomore, once a do-everything talent at the Class 2A school, is trying to do just enough to prove Charlie Strong should trust him with a job. He stepped out of the shadows in Texas' spring game and hasn't looked back since.

"He's made plays," Texas senior safety Mykkele Thompson said. "That's the name of the game. You make plays."

Haines was the surprise name of the Orange-White game in April, when he picked off Tyrone Swoopes' first pass attempt of the day and picked up 23 yards on the return. That eye-opener earned Haines first-team reps in the scrimmage.

When you're a third-year walk-on, and the window of opportunity cracks open ever so slightly, you better jump through it. Haines did just that. Then Strong blew the window wide open with his recent suspension of senior safety Josh Turner and dismissal of redshirt freshman Chevoski Collins.

Turner's suspension of at least one game means that, when Texas opens the season Aug. 30 against North Texas, it's entirely possible Haines could get the call to start.

"He has the chance of a lifetime there," Haire said.

In Lago Vista, a town of 6,000 located 35 miles northwest of Austin, Haines was known as a good four-sport athlete who played a little bit of everything -- corner, safety, receiver, running back, left-footed kicker. But he was better known as Dakota Haines' little brother.

"You know how big brothers are. He was in the shadows," Haire said. "Once Dakota graduated and Dylan became a senior, it became evident that, hey, Dylan might be just as good an athlete or better."

The brothers were raised by a pair of Longhorns. John Haines was an All-Southwest Conference defensive tackle at Texas in the 1980s who played four years in the NFL. Their mother, Sandra, was on the Texas track and field team from 1976-78. Her father and uncle both ran at UT, too.

After Dakota followed in their footsteps, enrolling at Texas in 2011 as a walk-on receiver, Dylan took over. His finest game came against San Saba, when he scored on receiving, rushing and interception-return touchdowns in one night.

"He took games over," Haire said. "He's the type of kid who took it over. He's what they call a baller now. If it's up in the air, he's going to go make a play."

And yet, the only other college that showed interest was Lamar, an FCS school in Beaumont, Texas. But Haire knew Haines could play. The level of weekly preparation he learned from his father and brother set him apart.

"He's the type of kid who would come in on Tuesday and tell you the other team's favorite routes and, with the kid he was covering, what his routes were depending on splits and alignment," Haire said. "He was a student of the game. I think he's a late bloomer if you ask me. He didn't reach his full potential until college. To me, he's still developing."

Surely his head coach can appreciate that. After all, Strong was a walk-on defensive back in his days at Central Arkansas. Defensive coordinator Vance Bedford tells his players he couldn't care less if they were five-stars or two-stars.

"Coach Bedford made that clear when he came here -- there were no starting spots," defensive end Cedric Reed said. "Everybody had to work for it. Dylan was one of those guys who went in there, went to the weight room, watched film, did everything he could to get on the field and it's working out for him."

Haines was back in Lago Vista a few weeks ago for extra workouts before the start of fall ball. He looked bigger to his old head coach, at 6-foot-1 and 190 pounds, and he sounded confident. He told Haire he's going to get a chance.

Strong cautioned Wednesday it's "just so early right now" to predict whether Haines can become a starting safety. But even if his chance is just one game, one shot to prove he belongs, the walk-on will take it.

"I think it's one of those feel-good stories," Haire said. "You'd have to have a smile on your

http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation/post/_/id/96716/walk-on-haines-rising-in-texas-fall-camp

 

[Lukus Alderman]

These underdog stories are always really fun to watch.

 

[primal defense]

Rudy

 

[Aaron Carrara]

Excellent read. With his drive and commitment he will be successful on the field.  From what I hear he's already wowing the coaches.

 

[java]

Excellent read. With his drive and commitment he will be successful on the field.  From what I hear he's already wowing the coaches.

Athletes that have to earn their spot frequently do, I believe.  They watch everything, even the little things, and it gives them an edge when they finally make the cut.  Ironic to think that if Strong had not been hired, if things were still status quo, Haines would have never gotten an opportunity.

Thank you for the article.

Hook 'em!

 

[echeese]

Good job Lucas,

I should have included him in the Top 10 off the radar guys. . . 

 

[Matt Cotcher]

Good job Lucas,

I should have included him in the Top 10 off the radar guys. . . 

He's perfect for that list.

 

[streettopeschel]

Great piece Lukus. Very well done!

who is his ghost writer?

 

[J.B. TexasEx]

* Lago Vista Vikings

http://lonestarfootball.net/team.asp?T=1835

 

[Lukus Alderman]

* Lago Vista Vikings

http://lonestarfootball.net/team.asp?T=1835

Thanks, JB! Not sure what I was thinking.

 

[SFlonghorngirl]

I was the biggest Blake Gideon fan.  Is Dylan's playing style comparable to him?  Blake was such a hard hitter! 

 

[armadillo slim]

very well done, lukus

 

[Etex Horn]

I was the biggest Blake Gideon fan.  Is Dylan's playing style comparable to him?  Blake was such a hard hitter! 

I loved watching Blake play too.  He always played at 100%, always gave his all and he did hit people HARD!

I attended Athens High with his dad, Steve, 40 years ago.  Blake was rated a 3 star recruit; I think he was one

of the lower rated recruits (as per the star rating) in his recruiting class. All he did was start every game for

Texas, from true freshman to senior year.  From the first time he stepped on the 40 Acres, he started every

game.  Not many have done that!  It was pretty cool to watch the son of a guy I went to high school with play

so well for the mighty University of Texas! 

 

[Lukus Alderman]

I was the biggest Blake Gideon fan. Is Dylan's playing style comparable to him? Blake was such a hard hitter!

That's a good question. In watching his HS video, he doesn't seem as much of a big hitter as Gideon was. He does, however, seem to be in the right place at the right time, which may be one of the big reasons why he's been running with the first team.