4-Star La Mirada CB Elijah Hicks Flips from Notre Dame to Cal
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @HogManInLA
As rumors swirl about who will replace dismissed Cal head coach Sonny Dykes, Les Miles, Justin Wilcox, or Chip Kelly, the Bears transition team headed by offensive coordinator turned interim head coach Jake Spavital has continued to work on the recruiting trail. The Bears picked up their first commit since lineman Casey Roddick on Nov. 20 when Elijah Hicks committed on Tuesday.
Hicks was part of a very tough 2016 La Mirada High School squad that made a run to a CIF Championship Game losing 44-24 to Edison. The Matadores used Hicks in all three phases of the game getting 31 receptions for 483 yards with five scores on offense. Where he will more than likely be highlighted at the next level is on defense at corner and on special teams as a punt returner.
The 6-0, 185 pound, speedster had 40 total tackles with four tackles for a loss during his senior year. He also had five interceptions proving to be a shutdown corner. Teams kicked away from Hicks as a kick returner getting just four tries covering 106 yards but he made teams pay on punt returns pulling in nine for 397 yards adding five more scores to the board on non-offensive plays.
Whoever the new head coach may be, they are getting a dangerous punt returner, instinctive cover corner, and a player as quick as he needs to be in Hicks.
College coaches started coming around on Hicks after a junior season complete with 47 tackles, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries, and 12 passes defended. He had 27 reported scholarship offers extended when he verbally committed to the Bears. Notre Dame offered Hicks on Aug. 3 leading to a verbal commitment on Oct. 18 just three days after officially visiting South Bend. Hicks also took official visits to Northwestern and Michigan. Fighting Irish fans learned about Hicks decommitment when he committed to Cal.
Rivals rates the Bears 2017 recruiting class No. 49 in the nation with two four-star players and 12 three-star talents. Rivals rates Hicks as a four-star recruit while 247Sports sees the corner as a three-star. 247Sports rates Cal’s class at No. 47 in the country, No. 11 in the Pac-12.
Cal Golden Bears 2017 Verbal Commitment List (16)
CB Je’Quari Godfrey, 6-2, 185, Bishop O’Dowd HS, Oakland, CA
CB Tyriq Hardimon, 6-0, 190, Lassiter HS, Marietta, GA
CB Elijah Hicks, 6-0, 185, La Mirada HS, La Mirada, CA
CB Marquese Taylor, 5-11, 177, Lovejoy, Hampton, GA
SS Jordan Genmark-Heath, 6-2, 205, Cathedral Catholic, San Diego, CA
LB Da’Quann Patton, 6-2, 210, Trinity Valley C.C., Athens, TX
LB Paul Scott, 6-1, 192, McClymonds HS, Oakland, CA
DE Gabriel Cherry, 6-5, 265, Centennial HS, Bakersfield, CA
DE Alex Funches, 6-2, 225, Trinity Valley C.C., Athens, TX
OC Michael Saffell, 6-2, 293, Edison HS, Huntington Beach, CA
OG Casey Roddick, 6-3, 341, St. Bonaventure HS, Ventura, CA
RB Biaggio Ali Walsh, 5-10, 186, Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas, NV
QB Chase Garbers, 6-3, 205, Corona Del Mar, Newport Beach, CA
WR/DB Jeremiah Hawkins, 5-9, 170, Buena Park HS, Buena Park, CA
WR Taariq Johnson, 6-2, 213, Buena Park HS, Buena Park, CA
WR/CB Michael Onyemaobi, 6-1, 187, Chaparral HS, Temecula, CA
Photo credit: InsideSoCal.com; No. 2 Elijah Hicks goes up high for an interception.