When the New York Giants collected their undrafted free agents in 2011, the news of picking up Henry Hynoski probably excited me the most.
Hynoski played fullback for the University of Pittsburgh. He stands at 6’0″ and 255lbs. Baltimore Ravens‘ linebacker Ray Lewis said earlier in the year that you don’t see fullbacks that large anymore, but Lewis hasn’t met Hynoski yet. Lewis is now sidelined with a triceps injury, but he’ll get to see the fullback when the teams meet in December.
Hynoski entered the draft in 2011 as one of the top fullbacks in the draft, but after a hamstring injury during the Scouting Combine, his draft value dropped and his phone never rang during the seven rounds. After the NFL labor dispute ended, Hynoski received various calls from teams, but ultimately chose to play for the Giants
His size and stature have given him the nicknames “Hank the Tank”, “Hynocerous”, “Polish Hammer”, “Polish Plow”, and “Hypnosis”. He’s the son of Henry Hynoski, Sr. who was drafted to the Cleveland Browns in 1975.
Hynoski was given the starting fullback position after the Giants cut veteran Madison Hedgecock. He recorded no rushing yards in 2011, but was used primarily as a blocker for Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs. At his size and athleticism, he does a supurb job. He did catch 12 passes for 83 yards, and my personal favorite one was this against the Dallas Cowboys in the final regular season game when he hurdled Terrence Newman.
He recorded his first NFL carry this season against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 2, picking up three yards. Hynoski is still being primarily used as a blocker for Bradshaw, but I hope this is good things to come for him to get his first NFL touchdown (which will probably get me dancing on a tabletop if he does).
And of course last season he was a Super Bowl champion. Hynoski made one of the most crucial plays in the big game when Hakeem Nicks fumbled the football. Hynoski jumped on it to recover the ball. The fumble happened in the third quarter and could have possibly doomed the Giants had the Patriots recovered instead. After officially winning, he looked like a little kid on Christmas morning.
Father and son
What’s special about Hynoski is almost what Lewis pointed out. Yes, there aren’t any fullbacks in the league that are his size anymore. Hynoski is one of the more dynamic fullbacks in the NFL today. He is explosive, powerful, and one of the best blockers for the offense. Bradshaw wouldn’t stand a chance of getting through defensive lines if Hynoski isn’t there to block. You can call me biased if you want, but I think he’s the best fullback in the league. There isn’t one big play so far this season that he hasn’t been part of in some way. His success is very quiet.
I’m just waiting for that first touchdown…
(picture explosion)
You’re welcome.
Follow Kelsey O’Donnell (@KelsODonnell) and Henry Hynoski (@HenryHynoski) on Twitter
