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Kaysville • There's no easy way to stop Troy Hinds on the football field.
The 6-foot-5, 225-pound Davis defensive end pretty much goes where he wants. He can spin or shove his way into the backfield, and there aren't a lot of players who can outrun him, either.
But off the field, he doesn't direct all his focus to where his football talents might take him — he has school, a job and a girlfriend to worry about. He acts and thinks much like any other 17-year-old kid, and that's how he, his family and his coach all like it.
"I try to stay focused on my high school team right now," Hinds says. "My parents know where my head is at, and they want me to live a normal high school life. I try to stay grounded and remember where I'm from."
In a year when Utah's recruits aren't generating a ton of national buzz, Hinds stands apart in the class of 2012. Rivals.com rates him as the 17th-best defensive end in the country, while Scout.com has him ranked No. 10 at his position.
While he's not the most polished prospect in the nation, his physical gifts give him the ability to drive back blockers and collapse pocket protection. Someone's going to get a heck of a defender, whether it's his top five programs —Utah, BYU, Nebraska, Stanford and Cal — or the other 10 Division I schools that have offered him scholarships.
The whole family has started to grasp just how big a deal this is. David Hinds, Troy's father, was recruited out of high school, as was his brother and his oldest son, Tanner, who plays for Weber State. But Troy's recruitment blows the door down by comparison.
"This is to a different level than we've ever seen," David Hinds says. "When schools that I've idolized send guys on airplanes to come see my son, as a father, you sit back and go, 'Wow.' "
But the Hinds' family strategy has been to insulate their son from the relentless attention he gets. All communication goes through Darts coach Ryan Bishop or the Hinds' family home phone. Troy's personal phone number and email address are off limits to coaches or any media.
When it comes to football decisions, Troy has the ultimate veto power. If he wants to talk to a coach, if he wants to attend a camp, if he wants to do an interview, it's his choice. No one's going to second-guess him.
"At times it's been overwhelming, but what's been really good to see is how he's handling it on his own terms," Bishop says. "Whatever he does with his recruitment, he's going to do it all on his own time. Troy is in control."
Hinds has been in the spotlight for a long time. Bishop remembers him as a freshman playing against Alta in the playoffs — a team that would go on to win state. Hinds had a few sacks in the game for Davis, and Bishop took it as a positive in the loss: One day he would be special.
But with time comes mounting pressures and responsibilities. Although he might be the best football player in the state, Hinds has a lot to work on. He drills with defensive line coach Preston Parrish to improve his hands and his quickness. He has a stack of Muscle Milk supplements in his kitchen, hoping to add weight to his lean frame.
And as a teammate, he's expected to do more as well.
"I'd say there's no doubt he's under pressure, and we've asked him to be more vocal this year," Bishop says. "He's accepted it as a challenge and is always looking to benefit those around him. He's secure in his abilities and knows other kids respect him because he's a great player."
It's hard to gauge where exactly Hinds is leaning on his college decision. His father says he might want to stay closer to home, while his coach says he could fit in just about anywhere. The announcement might be after the season, but Hinds admits that he has given some thought to deciding before to give him one less thing to worry about during his season.
But whenever he does make his decision, it will be his own. And until then, he'll keep terrorizing his high school peers on the gridiron. When Hinds lines up for a pass rush, the last thing on a blocker's mind is where he'll be going to college.
"I don't know what I want [opponents] to be thinking about me," Hinds says. "As long as they're thinking about me, I'm good."
Twitter: @kylegoon Troy Hinds at a glance
• First played varsity as freshman; started past two years.
• Notched 7.5 sacks last season and 58 total tackles.
• Runs a 4.65 40-yard time at 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds.
• Brother Tanner is a running back at Weber State.
• Top five schools are Utah, BYU, Nebraska, Stanford and California, with Notre Dame also in the mix.
• Could play a down lineman or rushing LB in college.