Before the season began, the name Ryan Hinds was on a lot of lips at the University of New Hampshire. Coaches and players alike believed the junior, who was primarily a special teams player the last two years, was ready to make an impact at cornerback for the Wildcats. They were right.

Last week Hinds was named the Colonial Athletic Association Defensive Player of the Week after coming up with two interceptions, one returned 74 yards for a touchdown, and six tackles in the Wildcats, 42-14, win over Towson . It was the second straight productive week for Hinds, who also had three pass break-ups and three tackles against Northeastern.

Hinds currently leads No. 9 UNH (6-1) in both interceptions (three) and pass deflections (nine) and is eighth in tackles (31).

"He's improved in a number of different areas, from playing more physical to being more confident, which would probably be the biggest factor that has led to him being a force on defense," UNH cornerbacks coach Alex Grinch said. "He's finally confident in the movements of a defensive back and the physical nature of playing defensive back and having the mindset that to be an effective member of a defense here you have to be dialed in at all times."

The movements of a cornerback were not familiar to Hinds because he was an offensive player - running back and receiver - in high school. And he went to high school in a place where football wasn't exactly a top priority - Toronto.

As freshmen at UNH Hinds and his roommate, linebacker Sean Ware, compared high school highlight films. Ware had to smile at some of the things he saw.

"In some of the games there were teams they played where some of the kids had different colored helmets and it looked like they were playing in backyards at times," Ware said. "It's a different breed of football up there, but he's definitely a good athlete."

A good athlete is exactly what UNH Coach Sean McDonnell saw when he watched Hinds on tape. McDonnell had recruited and coached multiple Canadians at UNH, so he had some sense of how to evaluate Hinds based on his surroundings.

"The thing I remembered was he was very fluid and he could run," McDonnell said. "And then we brought him in for a visit late and he's physically a really good looking kid. He looks the part as much as any of the football players we've had here. He's athletic. And I go back (and understand that) it takes usually two or three years for players that come from Canada."

But none of the former UNH Canadians took the same route to Canada as the 6-foot-1, 190-pound Hinds, who was born in the South American country of Guyana.

"I think he's like any other normal American," Ware said. "You can't tell, unless he tells you, that he's from those places."

But having such a diverse a background and overcoming the kinds of football challenges he's faced has helped shape Hinds into more than just "normal."

"He's a good guy. He's very, very intelligent. He's a pre-med kid and really picks up on things and has done a real good job of learning the football side of things," Grinch said. "He's smart, he's articulate, he's respected by our guys. He's the whole package from the personality standpoint."