CFB: Ja'Von Hicks discusses Cincinnati career, looks ahead to NFL Draft
Getting ready for the NFL Draft: “As of right now, I’m just going into the Cincinnati facility to do treatment and rehab. Then I’m just going to work out, find something to eat and relax for the rest of the day. Training in Florida was seven days a week pretty much. It was very intense workouts. I would get up at like 6:00 AM to start my day, get some good breakfast and then go up to the field to loosen up before we started our speed workout. Some days we had field work with different position drills. After that we would lift or have yoga some days. I was training down at Perform with a guy named Nick Hicks.”
Pro Day performance: “Pro Day didn’t really go my way because I hurt my hamstring during the 40-yard dash. I still think I ran and jumped well. Obviously scouts are still staying in touch with me so that says a lot about my film. Mentally I was a little down on myself but I think my second 40 was still good enough that I can be proud of myself at the end of the day. It feels great now. I’ve been in the training room to be able to get back right. I just believe that everybody’s journey is different. My journey is not going to be the same as those guys that went to the NFL Combine. I have no problem with that. It just adds some extra motivation for me that maybe there’s something I need to work on and I’m perfectly fine with it. When a team picks me up or minicamp comes around, I’ll push that to the side and show these teams what I’m able to do on the field.”
Expectations for the NFL Draft: “I really have no expectations. I’m just praying and hoping that whatever team picks me up knows that they’re going to get a player that is going to go to work every day, be a great teammate and do whatever the team needs to win. I plan on being with my family and a few friends. Just be around the people that helped me along my journey. I spoke to a few teams and stuff like that but I’m just going through the process. The support system that I have around me. My family has been huge along my journey. Having their support through anything and everything, no matter what the circumstances are, is huge.”
Decision to commit to Cincinnati: “There were no other coaches or schools that I was being recruited by that had the same type of relationships with. It was huge because the relationship was built the day coach Fickell took the job at Cincinnati and it grew until it was time for me to sign my letter of intent. By the time I got to the University of Cincinnati, everything was the same and it just felt like I was playing for somebody that I already knew and it wasn’t a stranger or something like that. I really appreciated the relationships that I was able to build with coach Luke Fickell, Marcus Freeman and Jon Tenuta throughout my recruiting process.”
Colerain High School connection to University of Cincinnati: “Honestly man it’s lovely because you’re playing with guys that you’re used to. When we’re on the field at the same time then we’re able to get on each other throughout the games because we know what triggers each other to go do something extra. We all know what we have inside of us so we try to bring that out in each other to make sure we’re performing the way we know how to on the field.”
First career start against UCLA in 2019: “That team feels like so long ago but that was my best year at Cincinnati. It was one of the best years I’ve had. I’m not not going to lie to you, I was a little nervous throughout that game but I knew what I was capable of doing, which is getting the ball back to the offense. Anyway I was able to attack the football when I needed to, that’s what I chose to do. I think I just had the confidence to attack the football no matter what that 2019 season. A lot of people say they attack the football but it doesn’t translate to games. I think that year it translated for me. I was able to walk away with over 10 takeaways and put myself in the position I am today.”
Reflecting on Bearcats career: “Just being able to leave something better than how I found it. When I got there, I think they were 4-8. Throughout my college career, we were able to win games and compete for national and conference championships. When I committed, I always said that I wanted to be able to play for a championship in my own city. When my time was up at Cincinnati, I think I left it all on the field and I have no regrets.”
Brotherhood with teammates and coaches: “You have to have a bond with each other because those are the guys you’re going to be taking on different teams with and you need to know each other's tendencies and triggers to bring that dog out in each other. I think those relationships are huge. Throughout my career, we always had team bonding and that really helped us. I think that was why we were able to achieve the things we did.”
Former teammates in the NFL: “Being around those guys during my five years at Cincinnati was huge. They are a part of my success and I’m a part of their success. I think those relationships that I have with them will go a long way. Those are a group of special guys that I was fortunate enough to be able to play on the same field as them. Being able to play with them was really special and I wouldn’t trade those moments for the world. I talk to Bryan Cook all the time. He helps me throughout my draft process a lot. Just telling me to keep my mental right, and there will be some long days and nights, and to always make sure I go into this with a clear head space because it definitely gets exhausting.”
Listening to Adele to relax pregame: “Yeah for sure. Honestly I don’t know the songs that I listen to by her but I just kind of play the music to relax my mind and make sure I have a clear head space before game times. Other rappers I listen to are Lil Baby, Rod Wave and people like that.”
Photo Credit: Getty Images.
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