C.J. Hicks
C.J. Hicks
Fills the run lane and blitzes off the edge. This is his fourth year in the same linebacker corps at Ohio State. The receipt: 3 tackles against Texas — Week 1, 2025.
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- positional archetype classification
- seasons on the roster
- game log
2025 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
Splits & context
Supporting Cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Ryan Day
Awards
Player Standing · 17 rungs
Tier 1 · 2-deepR04 · Rotational
Rotational. Tackle volume for the position in rotation-piece range.
Career stats
| Season | Team | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Ohio State | 6 | 2 | 1.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| 2024 | Ohio State | 22 | 10 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 1 | -- | -- |
| 2023 | Ohio State | 8 | 5 | 1.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| 2022 | Ohio State | 6 | 4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| Career | 42 | 21 | 4.0 | 2.0 | 1 | -- | -- |
How he plays
Play style
Downhill striker who fills the run lane and blitzes off the edge.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
Ohio State
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Linebacker · Ohio State
Returning around him
- 11 Ohio State players drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: -20 net (17 in / 37 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Ohio State · Last season: 12-2 (AP #3) · Talent rank #3 · 2026 recruiting class #4
DNA match
Player DNA
Thumper
Downhill striker who fills the run lane and blitzes off the edge.
His 2024 production profile sits closest to MJ Sherman’s 2023 season.
Matches MJ on
Differs from MJ on
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a junior, his production profile tracks closest to Isaiah Johnson's junior season at Fresno State (2022).
Matches Isaiah on
Differs from Isaiah on