C.J. Hicks

Position:
Defensive End
Height:
6-3
Weight:
240
Class:
Graduate Student
Hometown:
Dayton, Ohio
Prev School:
Ohio State
High School:
Archbishop Alter HS

A transfer defensive end who arrived in January of 2025 after playing in 44 games for Ohio State over four seasons…a veteran of 44 games as a Buckeye - 12 as a true freshman in 2022 – including playing in 15 games in 2024 when Ohio State won the national championship… posted 42 career tackles and 4.0 tackles-for-loss with two of those quarterback sacks at Ohio State.

2025 (OHIO STATE): Red-shirted the 2025 season to retain one year of eligibility ….played in four regular season games and then played on special teams in both post-season games…posted six tackles on the year...was moved from linebacker to defensive end in spring 2025 to take advantage of his speed and strength.

2024 (OHIO STATE): Played in 15 games as Ohio State won the CFP National Championship...posted 22 tackles, two tackles for loss and a pair of sacks with one pass deflection...his quarterback sacks came vs. Akron and he recorded half-sacks vs. Michigan State and Northwestern....had a season high six tackles in the season-opener vs. Akron...logged four tackles vs. Purdue.

2023 (OHIO STATE): Played in 13 games, posting eight tackles and a tackle for loss.

2022 (OHIO STATE): Played in 12 games as a true freshman...logged six tackles on the year.

HIGH SCHOOL: A five-star prospect according to 247Sports and the No. 1-ranked player in Ohio for the Class of 2022…a semifinalist for the Maxwell Club’s National High School Defensive Player of the Year award…was the nation’s No. 2-ranked linebacker…a High School Butkus Award Finalist…recorded 84 tackles, 18 tackles for loss and two interceptions, one of which he returned 99 yards for a touchdown, as a senior in the fall of 2021…named Ohio’s Division III Defensive Player of the Year…chosen as the Division III Southwest District Defensive Player of the Year in 2020 and 2021…started at linebacker, running back, kick returner and punt returner…amassed 1,442 all-purpose yards (667 rushing, 397 receiving) and nine touchdowns on the offensive side of the ball.

PERSONAL: The son of Tiffane Hardin…graduated in December 2025 from Ohio State with his degree in human development and family services…a 2025 Academic all-Big Ten Conference honoree.