Jordan Hicks

Like many of the players signed during Mack Brown's tenure at Texas, Hicks signed with the Longhorns as a highly regarded prep prospect. He was a Parade All-American and was given the high school Butkus Award as the nation's top linebacker in 2009. Hicks played in all 12 games as a freshman, recording 23 tackles as a reserve linebacker and on special teams and looked like a future standout a year later by starting eight of 13 games as a true sophomore and finishing sixth on the team with 65 tackles. Rather than build upon his resume the next two years, however, Hicks missed most of the 2012 and 2013 seasons due to injury. Hicks ended his collegiate career on a high note, leading the Longhorns with 138 tackles over the 2014 regular season and earning an invitation to the Senior Bowl. While productive and an inspiration given the resiliency he showed in performing well in 2014 after season-ending injuries sidetracked him the previous two seasons, Hicks does not possess ideal tools for the next level, projecting best as an outside linebacker in a traditional 4-3 alignment.

strengths

Compact frame, which he uses to slip past would-be blockers. Good core flexibility and balance as a pass-rusher to dip under the reach of pass-blockers or when scraping off the edge. Closes quickly on the ball once he locates it, showing some pop on contact.

generally a reliable open-field tackler who lowers his shoulder into the ballcarrier and wraps his arms.

WEAKNESSES

short and loses sight of the ball on occasion. see-it-and-go defender who lacks ideal instincts, too often taking false steps on his way to the ball. flat-footed in coverage, leaving him trailing the action. relies on his athleticism to avoid blockers and struggles to disengage when they're able to latch on.

Durability concerns. Missed a combined 19 games in 2012-13 due to a hip injury (2012) and Achilles tear (2013), each of which will require examination at the Combine. Hicks was one of two Texas players suspended and sent home from the Dec. 31 Alamo Bowl after violating team rules.

Missed a combined 19 games in 2012-13 due to a hip injury (2012) and Achilles tear (2013)

Coached by Larry Cox at Lakota West H.S.

a prep All-American, two-time first-team all-state, all-county and all-district selection at linebacker

three-year starter who was named to PARADE’s All-America High School Football Team

also named PARADE’s top linebacker in the nation

earned first-team All-USA honors by USA Today

an EA SPORTS All-American first-team selection

Gatorade’s Ohio high school football Player of the Year

awarded the high school Butkus Award, given to the nation’s top high school linebacker

played in the 2010 Under Armour All-America game

a member of Rivals’ top 100 and ESPNU’s top 150 national prospects

ranked as the best outside linebacker and fourth-best overall prospect by ESPNU and ranked the best linebacker and 16th-best overall prospect by Rivals

posted 216 tackles, 8.5 sacks, 36 TFL, three forced fumbles, four INTs, 10 PBU and a TD over his final three seasons

helped Lakota West post a 21-11 record over that time span

selected as the All-Ohio Defensive co-Player of the Year and a Division I first-team all-state selection by the Associated Press as a senior

Ohio High magazine’s 2009 Defensive Player of the Year and first-team selection

Greater Miami Conference co-athlete of the year and all-conference first-team selection

selected to The Cincinnati Enquirer Division I All-Star first team. Journal News Butler County Defensive Player of the Year and all-county first-team selection

recorded 95 tackles (65 solo), three sacks, 13 TFL, two INTs, two PBU and a TD

also punted 18 times for a 40.6 average and rushed for 77 yards and two TDs

served as captain for a Lakota West team that went 9-2 and earned a share of the Greater Miami Conference championship

recorded 18 tackles in a 28-17 victory over Sycamore

All-Ohio Division I first-team all-state selection by the Associated Press as a junior

selected to The Cincinnati Enquirer Division I All-Star first team

Greater Miami Conference All-Conference first-team selection

Ohio High magazine first-team selection

recorded 70 tackles (52 solo), four sacks, 16 TFL, two INTs, six PBU and two forced fumbles

a Greater Miami Conference All-Conference second-team selection as a sophomore

honorable mention selection to The Cincinnati Enquirer All-Star team

recorded 51 tackles, 1.5 sacks, seven TFL, two PBU and a forced fumble

also lettered in basketball

served as team captain as a senior and was a second-team all-conference selection as a junior

holds district record for most varsity basketball games played in a career with 87 games

set district record for steals in a career with 170

an honorable mention all-state and first-team all-conference selection as a senior

also an honorable mention Division I selection by The Cincinnati Enquirer as a junior

averaged 12 points and six rebounds per game

tabbed honorable mention all-district and first-team all-conference as a sophomore

averaged 14 points and five rebounds per game

averaged 10 points and three rebounds a game as a freshman.

Born in Colorado Spring, Colo.

also lived in Indiana (ages 1-6) and South Carolina (ages 6-11) before moving to Ohio

a four-time academic all-conference performer in high school

. six-time member of Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll (fall 2010; spring 2011; spring 2012; spring 2013; fall 2013; spring 2014)

graduated in December, 2013 with a degree in sport management

pursuing a master’s in advertising.