There won't be many prospects more prepared for life in the NFL than Cincinnati safety Ja'Von Hicks.
Born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, Hicks enjoyed a sensational last two seasons with the Bearcats. He anchored one of arguably the nation’s top pass defenses, as Cincinnati - which featured 2022 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Sauce Gardner - ranked best in the nation in pass efficiency en route to the College Football Playoffs in 2021. Hicks could’ve tried his luck in the 2022 NFL Draft, but he decided instead to stay at college level for one more season.
During his time with Cincinnati, Hicks played on a Bearcats defence that featured several future NFL draft picks - including top-five pick Gardner - so he often didn't receive the recognition he deserved. With an exciting combination of athleticism and an eye for the ball, he tallied 197 tackles, 10 interceptions and three forced fumbles over his five-year career, while the safety was named a Second-Team All-AAC star as a senior after he allowed just a 46 percent completion rate and 128 yards in 12 starts.
Ultimately, the Bearcats have seen four safeties drafted to the NFL in recent years, three of which competed for starting roles: Derrick Forrest (Washington Commanders), James Wiggins ( Arizona Cardinals ). Hicks is ready to make the step up after logging over 1,300 snaps as a free safety in his career - and he sat down with Mirror Sport to discuss his career in Cincinnati and his personality ahead of next month’s NFL Draft.
Walk me through your style of play in your own words.
My style of play is that I'm a ball hawk - I have a nose for the football and wherever the ball is, that's where you will find me. I mean, the stats don't lie. I ended my college career with 10 interceptions and a handful of fumble recoveries. forced fumbles and stuff like that. That’s just the style of player I am. Also, I know the game of football, and all the ins and outs. I think that’s my biggest asset that I can bring to the next level and really progress.
How did you approach each game day during your college career?
Honestly, I start my day by watching YouTube or listening to music. It’s not football, football, football right from the go - I have to clear my head and not overthink about the game. I find wherever peace is for me on the day. When it’s game time, it’s game time but any time before then I’m just tiring to feel free. I listen to calming music before the game. Some guys like to be riled up when listening to music before a game, but I like to be calm until that foot hits the ball and then it’s showtime.
What kind of music is on your playlist then?
Nobody will believe me, but every game day I was listening to Adele for sure. She has my my mind levelled out. It was extremely peaceful for me and cleared my head. She never failed me.
Let’s look to the future: what is an NFL franchise going to get from you?
They will get a smart player who does anything for the team; I will play special teams, I will do whatever the team needs me to do. I’m willing to be coached and adaptive to anything the team needs.
Is there anyone in the NFL you liken your game to?
Minkah Fitzpatrick has a real nose for the football. He's going to get the tip picks and get the ball wherever it is on the field. He might punch it out. He just makes plays and that's the kind of player I am.
Have you had any contact with any teams?
A few teams have hit me up about releasing some medical stuff, but other than that, no.
It's a long process. How have you found it?
It has been exhausting at times, honestly. After you declared, it’s back to work so I flew down to Florida after the Bowl game and I’ve been training out here for three months. I’m heading back to Cincinnati for my Pro Day and it feels like the time to showcase my talents to these NFL scouts.
I saw you what you didn't get an invite to the Combine. How did that land with you?
It’s just motivation. It’s a chip on my shoulder. I’ve always been overlooked growing up and I feel like it has helped me find success in high school and college. Honestly, I'd rather be the player that is overlooked than the person with the all the tension and pressure. When I reach the next level, I just have my goals that I want to accomplish.
Let’s switch it up a bit: who is your biggest sporting inspiration across any sport?
The main player I look to is LeBron James; I just liked the way he carried himself and approached the game of basketball with his knowledge for the game. He understands that basketball isn't the end all be all, so he is also the type of person that is doing the outside things and that's what I’ve been doing my whole life.
An Ohio native as well! Who has had the biggest influence on your career?
For sure, my mother. Honestly, every time I took the field I always thought about my mum and how supportive she has been for me. Throughout this process, that's really what was was driving me: what can I do for her after all the sacrifices she made for me? What can I do to pay her back? She's not the type of person that is going to expect anything from me, but that's just what I want to do. I want to take care of my mum and do the things that she’s done for me.
What is your earliest NFL memory and when did you realise you wanted to make it all the way to the league?
I honestly don't know, man. Growing up I played basketball and I thought I was going to the NBA. I played AAU at a really high-level, but I realised that my sport was football and everybody always told me I was better at football than I was at basketball. I realised if I wanted to take a run at the professional level, football was the way to go and it has worked out for me so far.
It certainly has. What was your position in basketball?
Honestly, anything! I was the player that played anywhere and I would do anything for the team to help us win.
Talk to me about another former Cincinnati Bearcat defensive back, Sauce Gardner. You guys played together on the dominant 2021 defense and he went on to win Defensive Rookie of the Year - were you surprised to see how quickly he adjusted to the NFL?
No chance, man. When he got in the league, he was humble and had a chip on his shoulder that he had to prove himself because people doubt the American (Atlantic) Conference. People think we don’t play competition, but we played competition day-in and day-out in practice. When he got to the NFL, he proved everybody wrong and proved to himself the kind of player he was and that he can play with anybody, no matter the competition level.
You mentioned you both play with a chip on your shoulder, so what was the culture like at Cincinnati within the defensive backs room?
We were just tough. You’re not getting anything free. We played nothing but man coverage at Cincinnati, and so we had a motto that we challenged everything and we took pride in that. We stuck with it and with each other -that's why we were so successful. That's why these guys that that got drafted last year and the year before are successful at the next level .
What was your career highlight from playing at Cincinnati?
Definitely playing in the College Football Playoff - that was a dream come true. When I first committed to Cincinnati back in 2017, people told me the programme wasn’t going to be anything, but I believed in Coach (Luke) Fickell and Coach Marcus Freeman. They had a vision that we would play for championships and we stuck with that. It came true for us in 2021 when we played Alabama in the Cotton Bowl, and while things didn’t go the way we wanted, we accomplished something most people haven’t. For me, put the 2021 Cincinnati defence against anybody and I believe we can go toe-to-toe with the best.
How proud are you to see how much the Cincinnati programme has developed during your time as a Bearcat?
I'm extremely proud. The motto is ‘leave the place better than how you found it’ - and I honestly feel like I can say I did.
