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The Washington State Cougars added the 12th player to their recruiting class when defensive back Jaden Hicks committed for 2021.
Wazzou IM COMING!! ⚪️ COMMITTED @NickRolovich @CoachBanker @WSUCougarFB @BishopGormanFB #Gocougs pic.twitter.com/1MAeBkEHel
— Jaden Hicks (@JadenHicks11) July 14, 2020
Hicks — out of powerhouse Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, Nevada — is rated three stars by 247Sports.com, and he held Power 5 offers from the Penn State Nittany Lions, Arizona State Sun Devils, Colorado Buffaloes, and Arizona Wildcats, as well as most of the Mountain West, including the Boise State Broncos.
He is currently the second-highest rated recruit in the class.
“Coach Rolovich coached my brother [Kalen] at Hawaii so we’ve always had that connection and bond,” Hicks told Blair Angulo of 247. “The coaches at Wazzu always showed love to me and talked to me throughout this journey, so it was really good to develop that relationship. My brother has explained how coach Rolo is a great man and always on top of his players, making sure they’re working hard and staying on path. My brother turned out well, so hopefully I can follow in his footsteps.”
Angulo reports Hicks has yet to see the campus in person, but that didn’t stop the coaches from trying to give him a feel for Pullman.
“The coaches set up Zoom calls and gave me tours around the whole school. They showed me their facilities and everything Wazzu is about, so it was really nice,” Hicks said. “And I really know all of them personally, so I know they’re great people and I’m just super excited to be a part of the program.”
Even though he played cornerback last season, Hicks said the coaches like him as a strong safety; you can see the skills he brings here:
Hicks is the third defensive back in the class, joining speedster cornerback Elisha Lloyd and fellow safety Adrian Shepherd. The class is currently ranked 63rd nationally and 7th in the Pac-12.