Signed: C.J. Hicks is Highest-Rated Prospect, Peer Recruiting Leader of Ohio State’s Class of 2022

From the moment he committed to Ohio State on May 1, 2020, Hicks immediately became the face of Ohio State’s recruiting class of 2022. While he wasn’t yet the five-star prospect he would ultimately become, anyone who had watched Hicks play knew the Dayton native was one of Ohio’s best high school football players and a potential future star for the Buckeyes.

Now the highest-ranked prospect in Ohio State’s 2022 class as the nation’s No. 12 overall prospect in 247Sports’ composite rankings, Hicks officially became the first five-star linebacker to sign with the Buckeyes since Baron Browning in 2017 when he submitted his National Letter of Intent to Ohio State on Wednesday, the first day of the early signing period.

Welcome to the Brotherhood, @imcjhicks

From Buckeye Legend @RyanShazier #BOOM22 pic.twitter.com/qZCtjLynJJ

— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) December 15, 2021

And Hicks’ impact on Ohio State’s recruiting class of 2022 extends well beyond his own five-star talent. For the past 19 months, Hicks has both publicly and privately recruited other top prospects to join him in Columbus, earning him the Captain Buckeye moniker and positioning him to be an immediate leader for his class when he arrives next month as an early enrollee.

He’ll arrive at Ohio State with the potential to make an immediate impact on the field, too. Linebacker was the Buckeyes’ weakest position group during the 2021 regular season, and changes are coming to the defense with the impending arrival of new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles. With the athleticism to make plays from sideline to sideline and a demonstrated nose to the football, Hicks could be exactly the kind of playmaker the Buckeyes need at the second level of their defense.

Listed at 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, Hicks will likely need to get bigger and stronger to be a full-time defender in the box against Big Ten offensive lines, but a full offseason with Mickey Marotti and the rest of Ohio State’s strength and conditioning staff will give him a chance to be ready to contribute in a substantial way as a freshman.

Hicks is expected to play Will linebacker at Ohio State, though his physical attributes could enable him to play a wide variety of roles; he’s fast and quick enough to play safety, while he could even line up on the edge situationally as a pass-rusher. Knowles, who is known for using a wide variety of formations and being aggressive on defense, should relish the opportunity to scheme up different ways to unleash Hicks’ playmaking ability as a versatile chess piece.

At a minimum, Hicks – who played just about every snap in all three phases of the game during his later years at Archbishop Alter, where he was a two-time first-team All-Ohio selection – should be an immediate contributor on special teams who gets a chance to compete for an early role at linebacker. Even if he has to wait his turn, though, Hicks plans to stay patient and trust that his decision to be a Buckeye will pay off in the end.

“I’m not gonna rush anything,” Hicks told Eleven Warriors in October. “It’s all part of God’s plan … If God wants me to wait until my senior year, I’ll wait until my senior year. If God wants me to wait until my junior year, I’ll wait until my junior year. If God wants me to come in and start right away, I’ll do that too.”

Hicks’ positive, team-first attitude is a big reason why he became the cornerstone of Ohio State’s 2022 recruiting class, but it would be a surprise if Hicks actually has to wait three or four years to play a big role for the Buckeyes. Ohio State needs more game-changers on defense, and that’s exactly what it’s hoping Hicks will be sooner than later.