Wake Forest Athletics
Kendall Hinton
Hinton Overcomes Adversity to Excel
11/22/2019 5:02:00 PM | Football, Les Johns
Kendall Hinton has been through a mountain of adversity in his five seasons at Wake Forest.
The Durham native has overcome multiple injuries, a three-game suspension, a position change and even an encounter with the dreaded NCAA transfer portal.
He went in the portal, thought over his options and decided to return for a final season at slot receiver for the Demon Deacons.
"Adversity," Hinton said and then paused when reflecting about his time at Wake Forest. "Not knowing what the future holds. There have been a lot of things the last four-to-five years. I've seen different teammates graduate and some leave — looking back at the five years and be happy I made this decision to stay. I'm grateful for every experience I've had and everything I've gone through.
"It's built me into who I am today. It's difficult going through it, but knowing you made it through just makes you stronger."
Hinton arrived in time for spring practice in 2015 and immediately began the first of six straight fall/spring camp battles for the starting quarterback position with John Wolford. Wolford, with one year experience under his belt, got the nod, but Hinton still had plenty of opportunities, playing in nine games while passing for 929 yards and running for 390 more — accounting for 11 touchdowns.
"A lot of it was knowing Coach Clawson and what he'd done in his past stops and the culture he brings with his staff," Hinton said about his decision to come to Wake. "We were bringing in some great players with my class and the class before me. You look back and all of it worked out pretty much how we expected."
As a sophomore, Hinton came off the bench in the second game of the season and got the stagnant Wake Forest offense moving in a come-from-behind 24-14 win over Duke in his hometown. He threw for 133 yards and rushed for 63 in the emotional win over the Blue Devils and was awarded the starting quarterback job for the next game against Delaware.
He suffered a knee injury in the first quarter against the Blue Hens and missed the remainder of the season.
"College definitely makes you grow up," Hinton said. "The coaching staff expects a lot from us in terms of maturity. Things are going to happen. Events are going to happen, both good and bad. It's all about the response. That's what makes the man; not what happens, but how he responds. You learn to respond in the right way and that's what it's all about. No matter what happens, you will make it through and be better on the other side."
Wake Forest had its most prolific season in program history in 2017 behind Wolford, setting records for total yards (6,055) and scoring (459). Hinton started one game in what became his redshirt sophomore season, throwing for 399 yards and rushing for another 199 on the season.
As Jamie Newman and Sam Hartman competed for the starting quarterback gig last fall, Hinton transitioned to receiver, backing up Greg Dortch at the slot. But in addition to missing three games at the start of the season with a suspension, Hinton also encountered a couple of minor injuries, playing in just four regular-season games.
"Last year was definitely up-and-down," Hinton said. "It wasn't the year I'd hoped for. It prepared me for this year. This season, finishing strong the last two games, knowing my role and what is needed from me vs. last year I had no idea where I'd be. Things were much more all over the place."
With another year of eligibility remaining after last season, Hinton wasn't sure if he was going to return to Wake Forest or explore other options. As the Deacs wrapped up the home slate against Pitt, Hinton went through senior day recognition, unsure of what the future would bring.
"Coach Clawson and I laugh about it now," Hinton said. "At that point last year, it was pretty definite I wasn't coming back. I'd say 90 percent I was going to be gone."
When Hinton put the icing on top of a 59-7 win over Duke in Durham last season with an 11-yard run, many thought it could be his last appearance in the Old Gold & Black. But then an injury kept Dortch out of Birmingham Bowl preparations, and Hinton got a ton of work during those practices at the slot position.
"I got quite a few reps and lots of opportunity, because we knew Greg wasn't going to be there," he said. "The position was still new to me at that time. Getting those reps preparing for the bowl and preparing for this year was important. It was great that I got those valuable reps.
"I enjoyed the position, and I told myself that wherever I ended up, I wanted to play receiver. That was an important couple of weeks before the bowl game."
Then Dortch decided to enter the NFL Draft, meaning Wake suddenly had great need at the position at which Hinton wanted to play. It didn't take long for him to decide to return for one more season as a Demon Deacon. He'll go through Senior Day recognition again Saturday night when the Deacs (7-3, 3-3) host the Blue Devils (4-6, 2-4).
"It's the same emotions, this time actually knowing it's my last game here," Hinton said. "It's crazy how fast it flies by. I'm just hoping to finish strong and to give these seniors the best going-out gift by getting this win over Duke."
He's played in eight games this season, reeling in 53 catches for 676 yards and one touchdown — that score being the game-winner in the opener against Utah State. Hinton is the sixth Wake Forest player to score a touchdown by rushing, passing and receiving. He's also just the fourth Wake Forest player to have a 100-yard rushing game and a 100-yard receiving game.
As his career comes to a close, Hinton is laser focused on the task ahead — defeating Duke on Senior Night.
"It would mean a lot for the team," he said. "We have quite a few out-of-state guys who aren't aware of the rivalry. But grabbing this game and going out strong on Senior Day would be great. It would give us bragging rights and momentum going into the last game. As an in-state player, it would be great to have those bragging rights."
Through the various trials and tribulations, Hinton has gained an appreciation for and friendship with Clawson.
"Coach Clawson and I are definitely tight," he said. "With all that I've been through, he's always stuck with me and had faith in me both on and off the field. Coming in, I was young and kind of wanted to do things my way. I had to grow up and learn how to do things the right way. Not until then were we able to connect and have conversations about life.
"At this point, I see why he did things the way he did and I'm appreciative for the things he did for me. That's what has brought us so close."
The Durham native has overcome multiple injuries, a three-game suspension, a position change and even an encounter with the dreaded NCAA transfer portal.
He went in the portal, thought over his options and decided to return for a final season at slot receiver for the Demon Deacons.
"Adversity," Hinton said and then paused when reflecting about his time at Wake Forest. "Not knowing what the future holds. There have been a lot of things the last four-to-five years. I've seen different teammates graduate and some leave — looking back at the five years and be happy I made this decision to stay. I'm grateful for every experience I've had and everything I've gone through.
"It's built me into who I am today. It's difficult going through it, but knowing you made it through just makes you stronger."
Hinton arrived in time for spring practice in 2015 and immediately began the first of six straight fall/spring camp battles for the starting quarterback position with John Wolford. Wolford, with one year experience under his belt, got the nod, but Hinton still had plenty of opportunities, playing in nine games while passing for 929 yards and running for 390 more — accounting for 11 touchdowns.
"A lot of it was knowing Coach Clawson and what he'd done in his past stops and the culture he brings with his staff," Hinton said about his decision to come to Wake. "We were bringing in some great players with my class and the class before me. You look back and all of it worked out pretty much how we expected."
As a sophomore, Hinton came off the bench in the second game of the season and got the stagnant Wake Forest offense moving in a come-from-behind 24-14 win over Duke in his hometown. He threw for 133 yards and rushed for 63 in the emotional win over the Blue Devils and was awarded the starting quarterback job for the next game against Delaware.
He suffered a knee injury in the first quarter against the Blue Hens and missed the remainder of the season.
"College definitely makes you grow up," Hinton said. "The coaching staff expects a lot from us in terms of maturity. Things are going to happen. Events are going to happen, both good and bad. It's all about the response. That's what makes the man; not what happens, but how he responds. You learn to respond in the right way and that's what it's all about. No matter what happens, you will make it through and be better on the other side."
Wake Forest had its most prolific season in program history in 2017 behind Wolford, setting records for total yards (6,055) and scoring (459). Hinton started one game in what became his redshirt sophomore season, throwing for 399 yards and rushing for another 199 on the season.
As Jamie Newman and Sam Hartman competed for the starting quarterback gig last fall, Hinton transitioned to receiver, backing up Greg Dortch at the slot. But in addition to missing three games at the start of the season with a suspension, Hinton also encountered a couple of minor injuries, playing in just four regular-season games.
"Last year was definitely up-and-down," Hinton said. "It wasn't the year I'd hoped for. It prepared me for this year. This season, finishing strong the last two games, knowing my role and what is needed from me vs. last year I had no idea where I'd be. Things were much more all over the place."
With another year of eligibility remaining after last season, Hinton wasn't sure if he was going to return to Wake Forest or explore other options. As the Deacs wrapped up the home slate against Pitt, Hinton went through senior day recognition, unsure of what the future would bring.
"Coach Clawson and I laugh about it now," Hinton said. "At that point last year, it was pretty definite I wasn't coming back. I'd say 90 percent I was going to be gone."
When Hinton put the icing on top of a 59-7 win over Duke in Durham last season with an 11-yard run, many thought it could be his last appearance in the Old Gold & Black. But then an injury kept Dortch out of Birmingham Bowl preparations, and Hinton got a ton of work during those practices at the slot position.
"I got quite a few reps and lots of opportunity, because we knew Greg wasn't going to be there," he said. "The position was still new to me at that time. Getting those reps preparing for the bowl and preparing for this year was important. It was great that I got those valuable reps.
"I enjoyed the position, and I told myself that wherever I ended up, I wanted to play receiver. That was an important couple of weeks before the bowl game."
Then Dortch decided to enter the NFL Draft, meaning Wake suddenly had great need at the position at which Hinton wanted to play. It didn't take long for him to decide to return for one more season as a Demon Deacon. He'll go through Senior Day recognition again Saturday night when the Deacs (7-3, 3-3) host the Blue Devils (4-6, 2-4).
"It's the same emotions, this time actually knowing it's my last game here," Hinton said. "It's crazy how fast it flies by. I'm just hoping to finish strong and to give these seniors the best going-out gift by getting this win over Duke."
He's played in eight games this season, reeling in 53 catches for 676 yards and one touchdown — that score being the game-winner in the opener against Utah State. Hinton is the sixth Wake Forest player to score a touchdown by rushing, passing and receiving. He's also just the fourth Wake Forest player to have a 100-yard rushing game and a 100-yard receiving game.
As his career comes to a close, Hinton is laser focused on the task ahead — defeating Duke on Senior Night.
"It would mean a lot for the team," he said. "We have quite a few out-of-state guys who aren't aware of the rivalry. But grabbing this game and going out strong on Senior Day would be great. It would give us bragging rights and momentum going into the last game. As an in-state player, it would be great to have those bragging rights."
Through the various trials and tribulations, Hinton has gained an appreciation for and friendship with Clawson.
"Coach Clawson and I are definitely tight," he said. "With all that I've been through, he's always stuck with me and had faith in me both on and off the field. Coming in, I was young and kind of wanted to do things my way. I had to grow up and learn how to do things the right way. Not until then were we able to connect and have conversations about life.
"At this point, I see why he did things the way he did and I'm appreciative for the things he did for me. That's what has brought us so close."
Players Mentioned
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