Jaden Hicks, SAF, Washington State
Size:
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 211 pounds
Arm Length: 31 1/2"
Hand Size: 9 3/8"
Accomplishments:
3-star recruit
“Jaden Hicks is an instinctual three-level defensive back who in the right scheme will consistently make impact plays for a defense in both the run game and in pass coverage.”
Strengths:
Position/alignment versatile
Ball skills
Fluid mover/smooth transitions
High-IQ player
Concerns:
Vertical speed
Tackling consistency
Man-to-man coverage
Film Analysis:
Jaden Hicks emerged during the 2023 season as a versatile three-level defensive back who has a knack for being around the football and making impact plays against the run and in pass coverage.
Against the run, Hicks makes plays from every alignment, whether that's FS, SS, LB, or nickel. Playing at depth FS/SS, Hicks does a good job of diagnosing plays and runs the alley downhill to make a tackle on the ball-carrier. Hicks is a contact seeker and will occasionally attempt to make the big hit on the ball-carrier. From alignments closer to the line of scrimmage at LB and nickel, Hicks appears to diagnose runs quickly and can sort through the traffic to get to the ball-carrier to make the tackle. Hicks does a good job playing against screens, showing to have good IQ and the athleticism to get to the ball-carrier and make the tackle. Hicks is a fluid mover with very little wasted motion in open space.
In pass coverage, Hicks is an effective player from multiple alignments playing different coverages. As the single-high safety, Hicks has good range as a player and can track the deep ball to make plays. Playing close to the line of scrimmage at the nickel position, Hicks does a good job in both man coverage and zone. In man, Hicks can run vertically with receivers (slot fade), locate the football, and make plays on the ball (PBUs or interceptions). As a second-level defender in zone, Hicks' IQ shows in how he understands route combinations and will jump routes to make an impactful play defensively.
Hicks’ concerns as a player center around his foot speed vertically. Hicks is a smooth transition player that appears to have fluid hips, but there are questions about how explosive he is transitioning or turning and running vertically with fast receivers.
Prospect Projection: Day 2 — Winning Starter
Written By: Keith Sanchez
Exposures: Wisconsin (2023), Oregon (2023), Washington (2023)
