The top safety recruit in Georgia visiting rival college football programs ahead of his commitment
The number one overall safety in the 2026 recruiting class, Zelus Hicks, already has over 20 official scholarship offers from FBS programs two years ahead of his first college football snaps. About 15 of those schools have been lucky enough to have at least one unofficial visit with the coveted star defensive back from Carrolton, […]
The number one overall safety in the 2026 recruiting class, Zelus Hicks, already has over 20 official scholarship offers from FBS programs two years ahead of his first college football snaps. About 15 of those schools have been lucky enough to have at least one unofficial visit with the coveted star defensive back from Carrolton, Georgia. But which top program is going to seal the deal?
According to multiples sources, Zelus Hicks has been a busy man this spring. In just the last two months alone he's visited USC, Texas, Alabama, Auburn, Clemson and Georgia State. And on Saturday, Hicks himself shared that he's visiting Georgia Tech for the second time in as many months!
Georgia Tech is just an hour away from his hometown, but it's still quite notable that amid the busiest spring of his entire life Hicks went out of his way to visit the Yellow Jackets twice. That brings his unofficial visit total with Georgia Tech up to four, more than any other school in the country. But does that mean they're leading his recruitment? Based on latest intel? Probably not.
Auburn, Georgia, and Ohio State leading the way
Hicks has made it clear that he's really enjoyed his time with Auburn in recent interviews, and will be visiting them again this spring. That will bring his total visit number with Auburn up to four since last September alone.
Georgia offered Hicks incredibly early back in 2022, and he quickly visited the Bulldogs three times. However, since then Georgia's momentum has seemingly slowed. Hicks did make it clear that he would be visiting Athens for the fourth time ahead of his actual commitment this spring though. They're clearly still firmly in the mix.
But then just days after announcing that he would be visiting Georgia he was spotted at a 7v7 flag football tournament wearing an Ohio State sweatshirt, making it clear to multiple interviewers that the Buckeyes were among his favorites. He's set to visit Columbus two weeks after Easter.
Sneaky College Football Programs Still in the Mix
Florida, a Georgia and Auburn rival, may be a sneaky school to watch in Hicks' recruitment. They're set to host him for the third time on Monday, April 1st and could likely offer him immediate playing time an alleged massive NIL deal per one Florida booster source.
Alabama, Texas, and Clemson were all on Hicks' radar in multiple interviews as priority visits last fall even before he ever made it to their campuses. He did make it to all three in the span of just a few weeks this spring, but there haven't been any major updates from any of those programs on his likelihood to commit just yet.
West Coast Wild Card to Watch
Lincoln Riley has made it clear that his entire off-season focus for USC will be on the defense as he's completely revamped his staff on that side of the ball. Riley himself has been flying all over the country to meet top defensive backs, but he made sure to host Zelus Hicks specifically in-person at USC in early March.
USC is the only school outside of the SEC footprint that Hicks has taken the time to unofficially visit on campus and he reportedly really enjoyed his time with the Trojans. Lincoln Riley just wrapped up the 2024 recruiting cycle signing three different four star recruits out of Georgia and continues to place greater emphasis in recruiting the state.
It's still early, but Zelus Hicks is about to announce his official Top 10 college football programs in the mix for his commitment. Expect Auburn, Georgia, Ohio State, Florida, and USC to all be on his favorites list.
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