The good old Marshall connection might have come into play Sunday.

Mavericks guard Chasen Hines has received a college football scholarship opportunity from Minnesota. It's the junior's fourth NCAA Division I FBS invitation overall and joins standing offers from Baylor, North Texas and TCU.

Hines (6-2, 326) reported the news through his personal Twitter account.

It's probably not a coincidence the Golden Gophers are one of the four teams ahead of the curve for the offensive lineman's services. Former East Texas Baptist University offensive line coach Lee Grimes made his way from the NCAA Division III school in Marshall to the Minnesota program as a graduate assistant last offseason.

Grimes even retweeted Hines' announcement, which college coaches are now permitted to do under NCAA rules.

The Golden Gophers completed an 8-4 regular season one week ago and finished fourth in the Big Ten Conference's West Division under first-year head coach Tracy Claeys, who replaced ailing coach Jerry Kill late last season as an interim. This campaign was a three-win improvement against divisional teams compared to the 2015 season and a two-win improvement overall.

Minnesota's reward for its regular season is a trip to the Holiday Bowl in San Diego. It will take on Washington State.

The Golden Gophers have been to 18 prior bowl games, claim 18 conference championships, claim seven national championships before the 1961 season and produced 1941 Heisman Trophy winner Bruce Smith.

Hines helped Marshall recover from a 1-4 start to the 2016 season for a 5-5 regular season finish and a berth in the Class 5A Division I state playoffs. Marshall lost its opening round game.

As a sophomore in 2015, Hines was part of an offensive line that pushed the team into the third round of 5A Division I playoffs.

Hines, like all college football prospects currently in their junior year of high school, will become eligible to sign with any school that offers him in February of 2018.

2018 East Texas Football Players With Division I FBS Offers

  • Tre Allison, John Tyler, LB, 6-0, 200 — offer from Mississippi State (1)
  • Dekalen Goodson, John Tyler, DL, 6-0, 215 — offer from Mississippi State (1)
  • Chasen Hines, Marshall, OL, 6-2, 326 — offers from Baylor, Minnesota, North Texas, TCU (4)
  • Demarvion Overshown, Arp, ATH, 6-4, 196 —offer from UTSA (1)

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