By Bart Moss
For the FCT

Shawn Hines has always loved kicking footballs. Now he will be able to keep kicking and improving while he makes history as the first Tharptown graduate to ink a football scholarship.
Hines signed Tuesday with Independence Community College in Independence, Kansas. He will serve as the team’s punter and kickoff specialist.
“It’s such an honor to get to keep playing and keep kicking,” said Hines. “I have worked really hard this summer to get better and stronger.”
Hines has a strong leg and averaged nearly 40 yards per punt in high school but boomed some punts in excess of 50 yards, and some kickoffs soared into the endzone.
It wasn’t high school stats that impressed the coaches at Independence, however; it was his work ethic and potential.
“I went to the school and tried out, and they were impressed with my punting ability,” said Hines. “I’ve spent the summer on UNA’s practice field kicking about three hours a day about four days a week.”
Hines is looking forward to continuing his education and getting to specialize in kicking the football.
“I’ve always loved kicking the most,” said Hines. “At a small school you have to play other positions to help the team. I look forward to being able to just focus on kicking and getting better at it every day.”
Hines will begin his college football-playing career when he reports to practice Aug. 7.
“I feel a little nervous about moving so far away from home in the Midwest,” said Hines. Independence is about 600 miles from Russellville, just west of Joplin, Miss., and just north of Tulsa, Okla.