hicks_recovery
#3

Ja'Von Hicks Season 2020

PositionS
Weight206 lbs
Height6-2
ClassJunior
HometownCincinnati, Ohio
Pronunciation2L
Name pronounced JAY-von

2022 All-AAC Second Team 
2019 All-AAC Honorable Mention 

2022: Safety wrapped up his career as a three-year starter and finished with 197 tackles over 60 games…His 10 career interceptions tied for sixth-most in UC history…Started all 13 games in 2022, recording 67 tackles (29 solo) with one TFL and three INTs… Season-high nine tackles and one TFL versus South Florida…Registered at least five tackles in seven contests…Had picks against Kennesaw State, Tulsa and Louisville… Season-high three pass breakups vs Tulsa… Racked up eight tackles vs No. 19 Tulane…Finished with seven tackles and one interceptions in the Wasabi Fenway Bowl…Collected All-AAC Second Team accolades.

2021: Started all 14 games and has 29 starts in his career...Registered 55 tackles (31 solo) with two TFLs, two interceptions and two fumble recoveries...Had picks against Tulane and Murray State, with the two fumble recoveries against Temple and Tulsa (the latter featuring an 18-yard return)...Season-high nine stops came at Navy with eight more against Tulsa two weeks later...44 of his 55 tackles came over the final eight contests...Recorded three pass breakups, including one in the fourth quarter at Notre Dame...Finished with eight tackles against No. 1 Alabama in the CFP Semifinals at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic...Was the anchor of one arguably the nation’s top pass defense...Cincinnati ranked No. 1 in the country in pass efficiency defense (103.37), No. 2 in passing yards allowed (169.2), No. 3 in interceptions (19) and No. 4 in opponent completion % (54.0)...Enters 2022 with 47 games, 129 tackles and seven interceptions already under his belt.


2020: Played in nine games while backing up a pair of All-American Athletic Conference safeties during the AAC Championship run...Totaled 13 tackles, one for a loss, two pass break ups, a forced fumble and fumble recovery...Finished with three tackles on three occasions, vs. USF, East Carolina and in the AAC title game against Tulsa...Forced fumble and recovery both came against Houston.

2019: An Honorable Mention All-American Athletic Conference selection starting all 14 games at safety and finishing sixth on the team with 50 tackles...Totaled a team and AAC leading five interceptions for 107 return yards and the most picks for a UC player since 2007 and tied for the ninth-best mark in UC history...Also had six passes defended, four fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles...Overall, had a hand in forcing 10 turnovers on the season...Made his first career start in the opener against UCLA, had an interception and a fumble recovery and never looked back, becoming a stalwart in the lineup after James Wiggins’ preseason injury...Tabbed as the AAC Defensive Player of the Week after having a hand in three turnovers at Houston, finishing with two interceptions and a fumble recovery...Had a career high nine tackles in the comeback win at USF, including forcing and recovering a fumble early in the fourth quarter...Had a 70-yard interception return in the AAC Championship game at Memphis to close out the first half...Named to the 2019 AAC All-Academic Team.

2018: Saw action in 10 games as a true freshman, mostly on special teams but also in a reserve safety role...Tallied 11 total tackles and a pass break up...Had a career-best four tackles on two occasions, at UConn and against ECU.

PERSONAL: Two-way player for Coach Tom Bolden at Colerain HS...Rated with three stars by 247Sports.com and Rivals.com...Both services ranked him among the Top-60 players in Ohio...During his three years on the varsity squad, the Cardinals had a 34-6 mark, three Greater Miami Conference Championships and two berths in the OHSAA Final Four...Won Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association 2017 First-Team All-Ohio honors and was tabbed as a First-Team All-GMC selection at defensive back...Hauled in 11 receptions for 159 yards and three TDs...Averaged 11.4 yards per punt return, finishing in the end zone once...Totaled 30 tackles and four interceptions with a pair of INT returns for a TD...As a junior, was tabbed as a Second-Team All-GMC honoree at wide receiver...Led the Cardinals in receiving with 15 catches for 344 yards and 4 TDs...Totaled five catches for 137 yards and two scores as a sophomore in 2015...Chose the Bearcats over reported offers from Bowling Green, ECU and Kent State.

Hicks_Ja_Von

Graduate Student
2022

Safety
6-2 / 210 lbs
HICKS_JA_VON

Senior
2021

Safety
6-2 / 205 lbs
_0078_Hicks_Ja_Von

Sophomore
2019

Safety
6-2 / 200 lbs
18_Hicks_Ja_Von

Freshman
2018

Safety
6-2 / 197 lbs