Henry Hynoski

Henry Hynoski

Hynoski in 2012
No. -- Free agent
Position:	Fullback
Personal information
Date of birth:	(1988-12-30) December 30, 1988
Place of birth:	Elysburg, Pennsylvania
Height:	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:	266 lb (121 kg)
Career information
College:	Pittsburgh
Undrafted:	2011
Career history
New York Giants (2011–2014)
Career highlights and awards
Super Bowl Champion (XLVI)
Career NFL statistics as of 2014
Rushing yards: 21 Carries: 6 Rushing average: 3.5 Total touchdowns: 1 Receptions / Yards: 23 / 133 Receiving touchdowns: 1 Player stats at NFL.com

Henry Philip Hynoski Jr. (born December 30, 1988) is an American football fullback who is currently a free agent. Hynoski played college football at the University of Pittsburgh.

Early years

Hynoski, nicknamed "Hank the Tank", "Hynoceros", "Polish Hammer" or "Polish Plow",^[1] was born in Elysburg, Pennsylvania to Henry Sr. and Kathy Hynoski.^[2] He is of Polish ancestry — his father's side is from the Mazury area and his mother's parents are from Gdańsk and Suwałki. His paternal grandfather changed his name from Chojnowski to Hynoski after arriving in the US.^[1]

His father was also a football player and played running back at Temple University. In 1975, Henry Sr. was drafted in the sixth round by the Cleveland Browns.^[3]

High school career

Hynoski was a prolific player in high school at Southern Columbia Area, finishing his career with 7,165 yards and 113 touchdowns. He led Southern Columbia to four consecutive PIAA class "A" state championships (2003–06). Hynoski is currently ninth on the all-time Pennsylvania high school rushing list, and was regarded as one of the top fullback prospects in the country, being ranked seventh by Rivals^[4] and fourth by Scout,^[5] in addition to being named the Associated Press Class A player of the year. Despite these accolades he was lightly recruited and he accepted a scholarship offer from Pittsburgh.

College career

Hynoski redshirted in 2007, his freshman year, and was primarily a special-teams player in 2008, his redshirt-freshman year, where he played in five games and recorded one carry for five yards. Hynoski eventually became the starting fullback for Pitt and head coach Dave Wannstedt halfway through 2009, his sophomore year. In 2010, Hynoski, then a junior, remained entrenched as Pitt's starting fullback. In early 2011 he announced that he would forgo his senior season and declare for the NFL Draft.

NFL career

New York Giants (2011-2015)

Hynoski was regarded as one of the best fullbacks available in the 2011 NFL Draft, until he suffered a hamstring injury during the NFL Scouting Combine. Due to the injury, his draft stock fell and he eventually went undrafted; however, soon after the NFL labor dispute was settled he received offers from several teams, subsequently making his decision to play for the New York Giants.^[6][7][8] Hynoski was given the starting fullback position after the Giants cut veteran Madison Hedgecock due to injury. He had no rushing statistics in his rookie season of 2011, being used primarily as a lead blocker for running backs Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs. Hynoski did catch 12 passes for 83 yards (a 6.9 yard per reception average).^[9] On February 5, 2012, Hynoski became a Super Bowl Champion in Super Bowl XLVI, with a 21-17 win over the New England Patriots. He caught 2 passes for 19 yards in the game, and recovered a potentially costly Hakeem Nicks fumble in the third quarter. Hynoski's performance attracted national attention as several sports reporters and analysts praised his play.^[10] On December 30, 2012, he scored his first touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles. On September 5, 2015 the New York Giants released Hynoski, ending his 4-year stay on the team.^[11]

References