Linebacker D’Vonta Hinton is no longer on the Texas Tech roster, head coach Kliff Kingsbury told the media Monday.
Kingsbury declined to elaborate on the cause and nature of Hinton’s departure, perhaps a fitting ending into Hinton’s enigmatic career in Lubbock. The Texas City, Texas, native -- who goes by the outstanding moniker @HitmanHinton6 on Twitter -- appeared in all 13 games in 2015, collecting 53 tackles, 5.5 TFLs and two sacks.
Hinton claimed a left ankle injury on the first defensive series of the Red Raiders ’16 season but nonetheless appeared in four of Texas Tech’s first five games. He would miss the final seven games due to unspecified personal issues. His status with the team was on-again, off-again for the next year, playing most of spring ball but missing the first half of preseason camp due to “a number of things,” according to Kingsbury.
Hinton was set to backup Jordyn Brooks at middle linebacker, but freshman Riko Jeffers will now occupy that spot.