WEST CHESTER, Ohio - University of Texas defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Will Muschamp arrived in Ohio tonight just in time to watch his latest prize recruit Jordan Hicks play a basketball game in suburban Cincinnati.
You might have to excuse Muschamp if he is a bit giddy tonight after he landed two of the nation’s top football recruits from the 2010 class earlier today.
Plano West (Texas) High School defensive end Jackson Jeffcoat and West Chester Lakota West’s Hicks both publicly announced oral commitments to play for the Longhorns on Friday.
Hicks, a five-star recruit, received a text message from his future college teammate Jeffcoat Friday afternoon shortly before the Ohio standout made his way to a much-anticipated news conference in front of several TV cameras, reporters along with friends, family, coaches and high school teammates.
“(Jeffcoat) actually texted me right before I came up here and said ‘Hook ‘em’,” Hicks said in the news conference earlier this afternoon.
Hicks, considered Ohio ’s No. 1 recruit overall in the 2010 class, is rated the nation’s No. 22 player overall, according to Tom Lemming’s Top 100 list.
Hicks had considered Ohio State, Florida and Texas as his three final choices the past few weeks. While some fans speculated Hicks would join the Buckeyes, the standout felt most comfortable with Longhorns.
“You know what? I feel like I got pressure to go everywhere,” Hicks said. “It wasn’t just Ohio State – it was Florida and Texas and Ohio State. I was just trying to handle it the best way I could.”
Hicks, who is 6 feet 2 and 220 pounds, handled all of the media spotlight and the constant attention from some of the nation’s top programs with a great deal of humility. Senior running back Jordan Thompson, one of Hicks’ closest friends on the team, said Hicks was always a good teammate and wanted the focus on the high school team instead of him.
Hicks told Thompson of his Texas decision on Monday afternoon when the two were driving to a local mall after school. Hicks pulled up a photo of a Texas Longhorns hat on his cell phone.
“I was surprised, but I wasn’t going to be astonished with his decision unless he committed to like Miami (Ohio) University or something,” Thompson said. “I was proud of him.”
Thompson said Hicks wanted to go to the mall to make sure he had the right size for the hat. Hicks adorned the same Longhorns hat as he announced his decision at the news conference Friday.
Hicks said going to Texas was always his dream since he was little. Hicks has been a Texas fan for quite some time.
“It’s been crazy to think this is actually happening,” Hicks said.
Cox said Hicks considered Texas, Florida and Ohio State very closely the past few weeks.
“When he says it was a tough decision and it came down to this week, it really did,” Cox said.
Hicks was the Associated Press Division I state defensive co-player of the year this past fall. He was the Southwest District defensive player of the year. He had 65 solo tackles, 30 assisted, 13 tackles for loss, three sacks and two interceptions.
Read how today's commitments launch Texas right back into the national championship fray.
READ HERE
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