A&M loses key LB for season with leg injury

Texas A&M sophomore Anthony Hines, who was considered one of the top linebacker prospects in the country coming out of high school, will miss the rest of the season because of a leg injury.

A&M’s Jimbo Fisher announced the news Wednesday during the SEC coaches teleconference.

Hines posted on Twitter: “Gods Plan !! Looking forward to supporting my team all season!! Soo thankful to have the support system I have! TAMU truly is a special place. 2019 is my year.”

Hines suffered the injury late last month in preseason training camp, but had been able to return to practice. He missed the season opener, but played against Clemson last week, although he didn’t register a tackle.

Hines, who is from Plano East, was rated as the second-best linebacker out of high school nationally when he signed with A&M in 2017.

■ Cyclones find replacement team: Iowa State announced Wednesday that it had scheduled Incarnate Word for its final home game.

The Cyclones were desperate for an opponent after their season-opener against South Dakota State was cancelled because of bad weather.

They’ll play this game on Dec. 1, with a condition. If the Cyclones earn a spot in the Big 12 title game or Incarnate Word makes the FCS playoffs, the game won’t be held.

Incarnate Word, a member of the Southland Conference in the FCS, started its football program in 2009.

The team is coached by Eric Morris, the former offensive coordinator at Texas Tech. Incarnate Word was 1-10 last season and is 0-2 this fall. Morris is in his first season.

Iowa State will pay Incarnate Word $300,000 for the game and will pick up the cost of the chartered airfare.

■ Florence cancellation: North Carolina State cancelled its game against West Virginia ahead of Hurricane Florence. WVU Athletic Director Shane Lyons said he won’t reschedule a game, Oct. 20, when the Mountaineers off a bye. He said he doesn’t plan on scheduling a game for Dec. 1 because WVU plans on “being in Dallas” the site of the Big 12 championship.