In 2009, Lakota West star Jordan Hicks was the type of athlete college football recruiters and coaches drooled over. He was rated as the nation’s top linebacker by most recruiting services, was given the Butkus Award for the country’s best linebacker and was named Ohio’s Gatorade Player of the Year.
He had his pick of schools, eventually whittling down his list of offers to three: Florida, Ohio State and Texas.
“It just felt like home,” said Hicks, who decided to play football at the University of Texas. “The people here were great, my mom loved it and the academics are great. It seemed like the best choice for me.”
As a true freshman last season, Hicks had to bide his time on the bench while trying to learn everything he could from junior linebackers Keenan Robinson and Emmanuel Acho.
>>>PHOTOS: HICKS IN HIGH SCHOOL, PICKING TEXAS AND PLAYING FOR THE LONGHORNS<<<
Through the first six games and with only five tackles under his belt, Hicks was forced into action when Robinson was helped to the sideline after suffering a head injury against Nebraska. At the time, the Cornhuskers were ranked No. 5 in the Associated Press Top-25 poll and had national title hopes.
He described the game as his “welcome to college football” moment.
“Going in there and seeing a top-ranked team, who was projected to go really far, made me a little nervous,” Hicks said. “They had really big linemen who were coming after me at full speed.
“It was kind of one of those moments that went by so fast. Now, looking back at it – it is hard to even remember … it was kind of like a dream.”
Hicks leaned on Acho, who made sure Hicks knew what to do and where to be. The coaching by his teammate helped Hicks turn in a standout performance that included a game-high 11 tackles. In limited playing time, Hicks would finish the season with 23 tackles, one sack, one tackle for loss and one quarterback hurry.
“One of Jordan’s best qualities is that he is an extremely humble young man,” first-year Texas defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Manny Diaz said. “High school accolades are nice, but they don’t help you out on the college football field.”
This spring, Hicks had hoped to show his first-year coach what he could do on a college football field. However, after the first two weeks of the four-week spring practice program, Hicks fractured his foot.
“It was after the first two weeks of spring, so I had a chance to show myself to the coaches and I hope that I made a statement,” said Hicks, who expects to be fully recovered for two-a-days this August. “I am expected to be on that field this year, so I am trying to show them my best, my work ethic and do everything that I can.”
Hicks, who had sit out the remaining two weeks of spring practice, spent his time off strengthening his upper body and coaching up incoming freshmen.
“Jordan is blessed with all the physical attributes you want in a linebacker, but his best asset might be between his ears,” Diaz said. “He is very intelligent in the meeting room and possesses great linebacker instincts on the field. His injury was a minor set-back, but his attitude has been terrific and we are excited to see him back at full speed when we start practice in August.”
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