‘He’s like a mini Abdul Carter’ – Ohio State defender is receiving wild reviews from his own teammates during fall camp
Certainly a promising sign for what he might do in Columbus as a senior.
The Ohio State Buckeyes have last year’s national championship firmly in the rearview mirror, and they have a largely new team with new goals.
Things get started with a tough opener against Texas, where Ohio State will need to be firing on all cylinders early. Arch Manning’s first game as the Longhorns’ starter will bring plenty of energy — not to mention the sting of the 28–14 loss Texas suffered to the Buckeyes in last season’s College Football Playoff.
In Columbus, much of the focus has been on the quarterback competition between Julian Sayin and Lincoln Kienholz. However, there are questions on the defensive side as well. Ohio State’s defensive line is set to have four new starters, and just a couple of weeks before Week 1, a player who isn’t projected to start is drawing comparisons to former Penn State star Abdul Carter.
C.J. Hicks is drawing comparisons to a recent elite pass rusher
Hicks, a former five-star linebacker recruit, has yet to find his true role at Ohio State. After making the switch to full-time pass rusher and adding 10 pounds ahead of his senior season, Hicks may finally be on the verge of a breakout.
“We battled in the spring. I felt like every day I was going against him,” Buckeyes offensive tackle Phillip Daniels said Tuesday. “His speed, his twitch, his get-off — he’s kind of like a mini Abdul Carter.”
Carter, the No. 3 overall pick by the New York Giants in April, is poised for a big rookie season in the Big Apple. He broke out in his final year at Penn State with explosive quickness and athleticism off the edge.
Hicks’ exact role is still uncertain — he may primarily be used on passing downs to get after the quarterback. If he can also prove to be a reliable run stopper off the edge, his value to the defense will rise even more. Now up to around 240 pounds, Hicks has flashed his potential repeatedly over the last six months.
Ohio State’s top pass-rushing options appear to be Kenyatta Jackson and Beau Atkinson, with Caden Curry and Idaho State transfer Logan George also in the mix. Still, you can bet defensive line coach Larry Johnson will find ways to get Hicks — a player drawing Carter-level comparisons — onto the field.
Don’t be surprised if Hicks makes a big play or two off the edge against Texas. Player evaluations often reveal more than coach-speak, and if his teammates believe he’s special, there’s good reason to keep an eye on him.
College Football
Patrick Mahomes says former Ohio State star has a chance to be ‘one of the best there is’ at crucial position for the Chiefs
Quite the praise for the former Buckeye who is set to be a Day 1 starter for Kansas City.
