Texas prospect Hicks to reclassify into ’25 cycle

• Eli Lederman, ESPN Staff WriterNov 5, 2024, 03:06 PM ET Close Eli Lederman covers college football and recruiting for ESPN.com. He signed up with ESPN in 2024 after covering the University of Oklahoma for Sellout Crowd and the Tulsa World.Zelus Hicks,

ESPN’s No. 1 safety in the 2026 class, plans to reclassify into the 2025 cycle and will register at Texas next year, the four-star Longhorns promise informed ESPN Tuesday afternoon.Hicks is ESPN’s No. 18 possibility in the 2026 class and will likely enter the 2025 ESPN 300 as a top-50 prospect in the current cycle. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound protector from Carrollton, Georgia, has actually been dedicated to Texas since Sept. 12 when he chose the Longhorns over Georgia, Ohio State and USC. Hicks told ESPN he has actually not yet figured out whether he will enlist at Texas in the spring or summer, but confirmed that his dedication to the Longhorns remains strong ahead of the start of the early finalizing period on Dec. 4.”I have actually been debating this choice because my sophomore year after starting as a freshman and playing against the best talent in the country,”Hicks informed ESPN.”Many colleges have actually been informing me I must do it. With prayer and talks with my family I decided it was the very best transfer to make. “With Hicks’ reclassification into Texas’ 2025 class, the Longhorns ‘count of ESPN 300 promises in the current cycle now stands at 14. Hicks joins a protective class headlined by No. 1 professional athlete Jonah Williams– ESPN’s No. 8 prospect is anticipated to play security at Texas– that also consists of commitments from four-star protective ends Lance Jackson(No. 70 in the ESPN 300) and Smith Orogbo (No. 107), outside linebacker Elijah Barnes(No. 91)and former Florida State defensive take on pledge Myron Charles (No. 178). Editor’s Picks< img src="https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/photo/2024/0829/r1379393_1296x1296_1-1.jpg&w=130&h=130&scale=crop&location=center"width="65"height="65

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1 Related Upon Hicks ‘relocation, the Longhorns approach the early finalizing period with 6 top-100 pledges headed to Austin in a class that currently ranks sixth in ESPN’s rankings for the cycle.Hicks was the

second-ranked member of Texas’ 2026 class prior to his reclassification. A physical, downhill protective back, Hicks earned a starting function in his freshman season at Georgia’s Parkview High School and made 95 tackles throughout his freshman and sophomore seasons. Hicks moved to Atlanta-metro powerhouse Carrollton High School ahead of his junior year this fall, teaming up with five-star 2025 quarterback prospect Julian Lewis and fellow ESPN Junior 300 potential customers Dorian Barney, Jonaz Walton, Ryan Mosley and Zykie Helton.Carrollton starts the state playoffs this month as the top-ranked team in Georgia’s 6A classification.Recruited to Texas by Longhorns securities coach Blake Gideon, Hicks jobs as a high-upside prospect who might require time to develop after skipping his senior year of high school. However, Hicks possesses a mix of size and speed that will make him a versatile alternative for defensive organizer Pete Kwiatkowski as soon as Hicks discovers his footing at the next level.”I’m fired up about being coached by coach Gideon and the rest of the Texas personnel,” Hicks said.Following Hicks ‘move, Texas now holds pledges from two potential customers in the 2026 class.

Luxury Dia Bell has actually been the Longhorns’top 2026 commit since he selected Texas on June 17. ESPN’s No. 2 pocket passer and No. 7 prospect in 2026, Bell will get here on school together with four-star wide receiver commit Chris Stewart, No. 218 in the ESPN Junior 300. The fifth-ranked Longhorns host Florida on Saturday at noon ET on ABC.