Father Knows Best: Shane Rink embraces Landon's Aggieland future
An elementary school teacher's attempt to rein in Landon Rink’s competitive nature was the first indication the young boy was a proverbial “chip off the ol’ block.”
It’s just not necessarily the ol’ block most would expect.
Those who know the family story would think Landon, a recent Texas A&M football commit, took after his father. Shane Rink once was a defensive tackle for the Texas Longhorns who notched 80 tackles in 1995.
That would make sense.
Like father, like son, Landon is also a star defensive tackle at Cy-Fair High School. He committed to A&M over other SEC programs like Auburn, Arkansas, Florida, LSU, Oklahoma and, yes, Texas.
But Shane, who is also Landon’s position coach at Cy-Fair, said his son mostly takes after his mother, Linda. She helped Duncanville win a soccer state championship and went on to play at Angelo State University.
“I always tell people he’s taller, bigger, stronger and faster and makes better decisions than I was,” Shane said. “He’s a better version of me, definitely. It’s hard in my house. I’m the worst athlete in the family.”
Their daughter, Payton — named after legendary Chicago Bears running back Walter Payton — played college volleyball.
“He’s a better athlete than I ever was,” Shane continued. “You see him do things just to make a tackle. I’ve seen him roll over backward and pop up on his feet. I couldn’t do that. Thank God for Mama.”
A glimpse at Landon’s highlight reel shows the athletic genes that he apparently inherited from his mom.
He’s quick off the ball. He catches running backs from behind. He moves out of the edge and beats offensive tackles. He even gets downfield to catch touchdown passes as a tight end.
He’s strong, too.
Videos posted on social media show Landon easily bench-pressing 405 pounds. He squats 605. He’s 17 years old.
Despite Landon’s strength, quickness and agility, Shane maintains his son’s greatest asset is his competitive spirit, which hasn’t waned since elementary school.
“He’s just driven and he loved to compete ever since he was a little boy,” Shane said. “I’d like to take credit for it, but he was born with an innate drive that he wants to win.
“When he was a little kid, the classroom teacher would tell him you don’t have to win all the time. But he was driven to compete.”
That drive was apparent when Landon attended a Baylor football camp as an eighth grader and competed against high school prospects.
Losers in one-on-one lineman drills were eliminated from competition. Winners advanced to the next round.
“He was winning all the get-off-the-ball drills,” Shane said. “(Baylor coach Dave) Aranda was watching. Landon got all the way down to the last group.
“He’s twitchy and explosive. That helps a lot. He has quick hands … violent hands. When he puts them on you, you feel it. He’d come home and want to demonstrate (how he used his hands). I’d say, ‘Let’s just talk about it. You don’t have to show me. I can visualize it.’”
By the way, Aranda also offered Landon a scholarship. No doubt, he could visualize the impact Landon could make.
However, there are those that can’t.
They see 247sports.com currently rates Landon as a three-star prospect and doubt him. They look at his 6-foot-2, 280-pound frame and question whether he’s big enough to excel in the rugged Southeastern Conference.
Yet, those doubters apparently have forgotten about future-Hall of Famer Aaron Donald. He was the best defensive tackle in the NFL over the last decade. He’s 6-foot-1 and 280 pounds.
That’s not to say Landon will become the next Aaron Donald.
It just illustrates there is no question he’s plenty big enough to play at the next level.
The question was where he would play at the next level.
There was initial speculation that he’d choose Texas because Shane played there. But Shane made it clear the decision was all Landon’s.
He did not try to influence his son. Shane didn’t look to talk with college coaches unless they asked to talk with him.
“(Landon) got the same experience all our (Cy-Fair) kids that are recruited get,” Shane said.
Of course, Shane offered input. But it was as a dad more than as a coach.
“We talked about what his goals were,” Shane said. “I’d give him my opinion of coaches, but you can’t find a bad one. They’re pros. They’re experts in their field.
“I’d give an opinion based on what he wanted to accomplish. I didn’t shield him. He did his thing and explained what he liked about each team.”
Landon was originally sold on A&M. However, that was before defensive ends coach Terry Price passed away last year and before defensive tackles coach Elijah Robinson left for Syracuse.
“Landon loved those two,” Shane said. “When Terry passed — God rest his soul — and Elijah left, he was really disappointed.”
Landon also liked former A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher. When Fisher was fired, Shane cautioned Landon not to react too quickly. Shane suggested to give new coach Mike Elko a chance.
Father always knows best.
“We were floored by (Elko’s) genuineness,” Shane said. “He’s honest and genuine. He delivered a message of what his goals were. He really won Landon over.”
When Landon met defensive line coaches Tony Jerod-Eddie and Sean Spencer, the deal was sealed.
“They’re a couple of special coaches who I felt had my son’s best interest at heart,” Shane said. “That’s what I wanted. I didn’t care where he wanted to go. A&M was No. 1. There were a lot of 1-Bs and 1-Cs, but they were above and beyond.”
That last line might seem difficult to say for a Longhorn. Maybe it was once. Not anymore.
“I love Texas. I’m a Texas Longhorn,” Shane said. “But now I’m also a Texas Aggie.”