Former Ohio State football five-star recruit finds new southern home

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We now know where another former member of the Ohio State football team will land after entering the transfer portal. Former five-star recruit C.J. Hicks will follow former Buckeye offensive coordinator Brian Hartline to South Florida.

Hailing from Dayton, Ohio, where he was one of the nation’s best prospects coming out of Arch Bishop Alter High School, Hicks never lived up to the hype. As the No. 2 linebacker and No. 10 overall player in the class, Hicks never saw the field enough to make an impact. Although he was buried behind some upperclassmen, Hicks didn’t seem to adjust to the college level at linebacker. Once Sonny Styles was moved from safety to linebacker, it was clear that a position change was necessary if Hicks wanted to see any playing time. A shift to the edge saw his most productive season coming in 2024, where he recorded 22 tackles and two sacks. There were glimpses of greatness as a pass rusher, but there just wasn’t enough consistency.

Hicks decided to redshirt after just four games into the 2025 season when he was again getting limited playing time. The redshirt allowed him one more season to prove that he can play at the next level. Some speculated that he might stay at OSU, with several leaving on the defensive line. Instead, he’ll be heading to Tampa to join the Bulls.

Hicks is the second player to find a new home, joining quarterback Lincoln Kienholz, who will be heading to Louisville to play for the Cardinals.

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This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Former Ohio State linebacker will follow Brian Hartline to USF

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