In his senior year, Hinton earned All-State honors as a halfback on the football team, started on the state-runner up basketball team, and won a state title in track in the low hurdles, earning him the Boomer Conference Athlete of the Year award.

[3] Hinton was also selected to represent Oklahoma in the 1965 Oil Bowl high school all-star game.

Under offensive coordinator Barry Switzer, Hinton had a productive college career as both a pass catcher and rusher.

[2] In Hinton's sophomore year, Oklahoma started the season with four straight wins, reaching #10 in the AP poll.

[6] In his junior season, Hinton again appeared in all 10 games and led the team in receiving with 28 receptions for 427 yards and three touchdowns.

His best game came in a snowy week 12 contest against the Detroit Lions where Hinton had five receptions for 134 yards and one touchdown.

[9] In 1970, Hinton became a starter at wide receiver and was a key contributor to the Colts' Super Bowl winning team.

Hinton started 13 games and recorded his best statistical season in the NFL with 47 receptions for 733 yards and five touchdowns.

[9] His best game of the season came in week two during the second-ever telecast of Monday Night Football against the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Colts were routed 24-44, but Hinton served as the lone bright spot with 11 receptions for 190 yards and one touchdown.

His longest catch was a 53-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Johnny Unitas in the fourth quarter to seal the Colts' 17-0 victory.

In what later became known as the "Blunder Bowl" due to the poor level of play, the Colts defeated the Cowboys 16-13 on a last second field goal by kicker Jim O'Brien.

The ball was then tipped by Cowboys defender Mel Renfro before falling into the arms of Colts tight end John Mackey who ran for a 75-yard touchdown.

Hinton later caught a pass from wide receiver Sam Havrilak on a broken flea flicker play, but the ball was stripped by Renfro and Cornell Green on the Cowboys' 11-yard line.

Several players attempted to control the ball before it eventually bounced through the back of the end zone for a Cowboys touchback.

[12] In his third professional season, Hinton and fellow receiver Ray Perkins maintained the Colts' dynamic passing attack.

Hinton's lone touchdown was an important moment in an otherwise meaningless week 12 win against the Buffalo Bills.

Quarterback Marty Domres, who had taken over earlier in the season for a benched Johnny Unitas, was injured and forced out of the game.

[9] Two days prior to the conclusion of the 1974 NFL Strike in August 1974, Hinton reported to Oilers training camp.