A 230 lb, long term drug abuser deadlifting 280 lbs as a “challenge” is comical.
The fake black blood story must not have got him enough attention.
I generally don't talk about lbs, since it's all relative to the user, but I did a pretty comfortable 315x5 straight bar, on my third workout back after getting out of the boot and not having deadlifting in 13 weeks. No special deadlift bar, no bounce, no straps, etc. I weigh a massive ectomorphic 180.
First workout was with 135 up to 225, next one up to 275, next one to 315. Then I started Ed Coan's 10 week program Friday.
If Hankins can't do 280, I would be surprised.