Ryan Hilinski

* 2019-20 SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll

Sophomore quarterback who was thrown into the fire as a true freshman and should reap the benefits of that experience this season… considered a pro-style quarterback with a strong arm and good football acumen… is 4-7 as a starting signal-caller… set school freshmen records for pass completions and attempts… set a school record with 180 consecutive passes without an INT.

2019
Enrolled in January and went through spring drills… began the fall competing for the Number 2 signal-caller duties behind Jake Bentley… was thrust into the starter’s role in game 2 against Charleston Southern after Bentley suffered a season-ending foot injury on the final play of the North Carolina contest… started each of the final 11 games of the season… completed 236-of-406 passes (58.1 pct.) for 2,357 yards and 11 touchdowns with five interceptions… averaged 214.3 passing yards per game, sixth in the SEC overall and tops among SEC freshmen, and 209.3 yards of total offense, eighth in the conference overall and third among the freshmen… tied the school’s freshman quarterback records for starts (11), while setting new marks for pass completions and attempts… also set the marks for a true freshman in passing yards and touchdowns… when he got the call against Charleston Southern in week 2, he became just the sixth true freshman to start at quarterback for the Gamecocks since joining the SEC, joining Steve Taneyhill (1992), Mikal Goodman (1999), Lorenzo Nuñez (2015), Brandon McIlwain (2016) and Jake Bentley (2016)… made his debut against Charleston Southern by hitting his first 12 passes and finished the day 24-of-30 for 282 yards with a pair of touchdowns… followed that up with a 36-for-57, 324-yard, two-touchdown performance against Alabama, earning SEC Freshman of the Week accolades… became just the second freshman in program history to throw for more than 300 yards against an SEC opponent, joining Todd Ellis, who threw for 342 yards against Georgia in 1986… the 57 pass attempts were the second-most in a single-game in school history, topped only by the 58 that Steve Taneyhill threw against East Carolina in 1994, while the 36 completions ranks third in school history, topped only by Taneyhill on two occasions – 39 vs. ECU in ‘94 and 38 vs. Mississippi State in 1995… recorded his second 300-yard passing game at Tennessee, completing 28-of-51 for 319 yards… logged his third 300-yard performance when he completed 30-of-57 passes for a season-high 325 yards against Appalachian State… became just the second freshman (joining Ellis) and the first true freshman to throw for over 300 yards on three occasions… already ranks in a tie for seventh in school history with Connor Shaw and Tommy Suggs with three 300-yard passing games in a career… between throwing pick-sixes at Missouri and again versus Appalachian State, tossed a school record 180 passes without an interception, breaking the previous record of 177, set by Shaw… named to the SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll.

HIGH SCHOOL
Highly-decorated quarterback who prepped at Orange (Calif.) Lutheran… graduated following the fall semester of 2018… led the Lancers into the postseason playoffs by throwing for 2,771 yards and 29 scores in 2018… completed 222-of-346 passes, a 64.2 completion percentage… coached by Jason Presley… invited to the Pro Football Hall of Fame World Bowl All-Star game in Mexico City and in the Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio following his senior season… selected to receive the prestigious 2018 Sam B. Nicola Award as the 2018 National High School Player of the Year, presented annually by the Touchdown Club of Columbus… one of four finalists for the All-American Bowl Offensive Player of the Year Award… was an Elite 11 quarterback competition and Nike’s “The Opening” finalist… named to the All-Trinity League first team… concluded his high school career with 8,102 passing yards and 85 total touchdowns… considered the 12th-best player in California, the No. 2 pro-style quarterback in the country and No. 64 overall by 247Sports Composite… ranked 66th on the ESPN300 and No. 45 overall by Rivals.com.

PERSONAL
Ryan J. Hilinski was born Oct. 24, 2000… is pursuing a degree in broadcast journalism… brother, Kelly, played quarterback at Columbia and Weber State… brother, the late Tyler Hilinski, was a quarterback at Washington State… active in the community and with Hilinski’s Hope.