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C.J. Hicks is ready to finally have his breakout season at Ohio State
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Barbara J. Perenic/The Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
As Sonny Styles moves from safety to linebacker, will Styles or Hicks get the start at the Will linebacker position?
Every day from now until the start of the season, Land-Grant Holy Land is highlighting Ohio State football players that you should be watching this season. Check out all of our ”Player to Watch” articles to get ready for the season opener against Akron.
There are a lot of different storylines and players to watch heading into the season for the Buckeyes. However, there is an argument that the main area to watch is the linebacker group, and in particular C.J. Hicks.
Hicks was a five-star prospect out of Archbishop Alter High School in Dayton, Ohio, and was the No. 2 linebacker in the country, the No. 2 player in the state of Ohio behind Penn State quarterback Drew Allar, and the No. 10 player nationally.
Allen Trieu of 247 Sports projected Hicks to be a first-round pick, and compared him to Fred Warner. Trieu had this to say about Hicks as a high school senior:
“A long defender who added good weight between his sophomore and junior seasons. Is growing more towards a true linebacker, but still shows the athleticism to play all over the field including out in space and even returned punts and played running back still at his size. Excellent blitzer who has explosive ability to shoot gaps or come off the edge. Additional strength was noticeable on his senior film. Ball skills are good, which he shows on offense and he should be a great coverage linebacker at the next level.”
However, in 25 career games for the Buckeyes in his first two seasons, he has recorded just nine solo tackles, five assists, and one tackle for loss. Now, he is ready for a bigger role as his junior season approaches, and everyone around the team has something good to say about Hicks.
“I think C.J., where he is now compared to where he was last fall, he’s a lot better football player,” position coach James Laurinaitis said.
“He doesn’t lack anything physically, so I think he’s getting better in the film room and studying and doing all that little stuff, the stuff that no one really sees; I think that’s where he’s gotten better. It’ll pay off down the road for him, 100 percent,” linebacker Cody Simon said.
However, with safety Sonny Styles moving to linebacker after Caleb Downs transferred to Ohio State from Alabama, it could be either Styles or Hicks that get the nod to play the Will next to Cody Simon. Hicks took most of the first team reps at Will linebacker in the spring game, but defensive coordinator Jim Knowles has not ruled out the possibility of playing all three together or a combination of the three.
“You get into a three-linebacker package, Sonny, Cody, and C.J.; you’re pretty good,” Knowles said. “But you can’t have just one guy. So, if Sonny’s not there at the Sam, then C.J.’s gotta know how to play it too so that you can bring in Gabe (Powers) at Mike, and Cody can play Will, and you still have a great lineup. So, C.J. has to know how to play both positions.”
I think most people can agree: When you have athletes like Styles and Hicks on the roster, you just have to get them on the field and figure it out later. And if Hicks is the starter at the Will, expect him to be a star on the defense. If not, he will carve out a role for himself regardless.
Continue reading...
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Barbara J. Perenic/The Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
As Sonny Styles moves from safety to linebacker, will Styles or Hicks get the start at the Will linebacker position?
Every day from now until the start of the season, Land-Grant Holy Land is highlighting Ohio State football players that you should be watching this season. Check out all of our ”Player to Watch” articles to get ready for the season opener against Akron.
There are a lot of different storylines and players to watch heading into the season for the Buckeyes. However, there is an argument that the main area to watch is the linebacker group, and in particular C.J. Hicks.
Hicks was a five-star prospect out of Archbishop Alter High School in Dayton, Ohio, and was the No. 2 linebacker in the country, the No. 2 player in the state of Ohio behind Penn State quarterback Drew Allar, and the No. 10 player nationally.
Allen Trieu of 247 Sports projected Hicks to be a first-round pick, and compared him to Fred Warner. Trieu had this to say about Hicks as a high school senior:
“A long defender who added good weight between his sophomore and junior seasons. Is growing more towards a true linebacker, but still shows the athleticism to play all over the field including out in space and even returned punts and played running back still at his size. Excellent blitzer who has explosive ability to shoot gaps or come off the edge. Additional strength was noticeable on his senior film. Ball skills are good, which he shows on offense and he should be a great coverage linebacker at the next level.”
However, in 25 career games for the Buckeyes in his first two seasons, he has recorded just nine solo tackles, five assists, and one tackle for loss. Now, he is ready for a bigger role as his junior season approaches, and everyone around the team has something good to say about Hicks.
“I think C.J., where he is now compared to where he was last fall, he’s a lot better football player,” position coach James Laurinaitis said.
“He doesn’t lack anything physically, so I think he’s getting better in the film room and studying and doing all that little stuff, the stuff that no one really sees; I think that’s where he’s gotten better. It’ll pay off down the road for him, 100 percent,” linebacker Cody Simon said.
However, with safety Sonny Styles moving to linebacker after Caleb Downs transferred to Ohio State from Alabama, it could be either Styles or Hicks that get the nod to play the Will next to Cody Simon. Hicks took most of the first team reps at Will linebacker in the spring game, but defensive coordinator Jim Knowles has not ruled out the possibility of playing all three together or a combination of the three.
“You get into a three-linebacker package, Sonny, Cody, and C.J.; you’re pretty good,” Knowles said. “But you can’t have just one guy. So, if Sonny’s not there at the Sam, then C.J.’s gotta know how to play it too so that you can bring in Gabe (Powers) at Mike, and Cody can play Will, and you still have a great lineup. So, C.J. has to know how to play both positions.”
I think most people can agree: When you have athletes like Styles and Hicks on the roster, you just have to get them on the field and figure it out later. And if Hicks is the starter at the Will, expect him to be a star on the defense. If not, he will carve out a role for himself regardless.
Continue reading...