RJ Hines has had a busy few weeks.
This past Friday, he walked at Putnam County High School’s graduation ceremony, and a few weeks earlier, he made his college decision, signing to play football at Cumberland University, an NAIA program.
Hines will play defensive back for the Phoenix and plans to major in business. The decision to choose Cumberland came after visiting the campus in Lebanon, Tennessee, located about 30 minutes from Nashville.
“Cumberland was my first original unofficial visit,” Hines said. “Going there and being there for a little bit, getting to see the school and doing a tour of the whole campus, I got to look at the business side of things and all that good stuff.”
During the visit, Hines met with coaches, toured the athletic facilities, and learned more about life as a college student-athlete.
“I got to talk to the head coach for a little while,” he said. “He gave me the rundown on housing and what it’s like being a student-athlete, how it’s different and how I’ve got to be mentally and physically prepared.”
The recruiting process began through social media and connections with former Putnam County players already at Cumberland. Hines said he worked hard to get his name in front of college coaches by sending emails and messages while building relationships during the recruiting process.
“I was trying to get my name out there,” Hines said. “I was trying to email and text coaches to see where the best opportunity would be for me.”
Hines said former Putnam County players Noah Long and Rashod Daniel, who currently play at Cumberland, helped make the transition feel more comfortable. He added that fellow 2026 graduate Jaheem Ross also plans to attend Cumberland and walk on to the football team.
“I know I won’t be alone,” Hines said. “I have a couple of guys from Putnam who will still be around, and I’ll still be able to have some home there.”
Putnam County head coach Joel Harvin said Hines earned the opportunity through his versatility and team-first mentality.
“RJ is one of the most unselfish kids I have coached,” Harvin said. “We asked him to play everything from defensive line to quarterback over the last few years, and he found a home at cornerback and ultimately found his way into a scholarship by trusting his coaches. He was willing to do whatever was asked of him to make the team better, and that is why he found himself with an opportunity to play at the next level.”
Hines said Cumberland’s coaching staff made a strong impression on him throughout the process, and he believes the opportunity on the field was a major factor in his decision.
“I believe that if I come and execute like they were saying, I would be able to get a starting position as a freshman,” Hines said. “That’s a good deal for me. I’m getting the experience primarily as soon as I get there, and I don’t have to wait too long.”
In addition to football, Hines said he is looking forward to the independence and experience that come with moving away to college while remaining relatively close to home.
“I’m really excited to play football at the next level,” Hines said. “I’m just ready to get out there and dominate.”