CJ Hicks Enjoying Being Pushed To The Edge

One of the bigger stories of the offseason for the 2025 Buckeyes is the move of senior linebacker CJ Hicks to defensive end. It’s a move to a position that is more reminiscent of what made Hicks a five-star recruit in high school.

Ranked the No. 1 linebacker in the 2022 recruiting class, Hicks was a terror off the edge or blitzing a gap that couldn’t be covered before he got through it.

Now in a more attacking role than reacting role, Hicks feels like this is a brand new start for him.

“100%. I feel like the change to edge fits my play style a lot more,” he said on Tuesday. “It allows me to be more aggressive, and when it’s time to get to the quarterback, I can get to the quarterback.”

Just because Hicks rushed the passer in high school doesn’t mean the transition to college edge rusher “just happens.” There is a ton of work being poured into make this happen. That work occurs during practice, before practice, and long after practice.

It is still very early in the transition, especially considering Tuesday was just the second day in pads for the Buckeyes.

“It’s still early, but I think it’s there,” said defensive line coach Larry Johnson. “We’ve just got to continue to work at it.”

Part of that work is also gaining weight. Hicks was listed at 233 pounds last year but is now up to 240 pounds with a goal of 245 by the time the season starts.

Asked if that will be big enough for what the Buckeyes need against the run, Johnson didn’t seem too concerned.

“I think he’ll be fine because he’s on the edge,” he said. “He’s not playing on the inside. He’s on the edge, playing against tight ends, may get a tackle every now and then. He’s got the technique. It’s good. He can be able to do it.”

Gaining weight and strength is just one small piece, especially when it comes to the details that Larry Johnson and defensive coordinator Matt Patricia will teach. The minute details become major focal points. They can be the difference between just missing the quarterback and knocking the ball out of his hands and taking it 83 yards for a scoop and score.

“With Coach Johnson, we learn something new every day,” Hicks said. “Being able to, when I do get off the ball, read the tackle’s hands. Hands down, go through them. If he’s got one hand, chop cut. Both hands up, side scissors. I’ve been working with Coach Patricia, being able to hold the edge in the run, just little things like that every day.”

Linebackers coach James Laurinaitis remarked earlier in the spring that when Patricia was hired, the first guy he thought of was CJ Hicks and what Patricia would be able to do with him as an edge rusher.

It didn’t take long for Patricia to get acquainted with Hicks, and now the two are working every day to make the most of this one year they have together.

“He’s a tremendous guy,” Patricia said. “Just the energy and the excitement, and he’s always trying to please. He’s really eager to learn everything. Skill set-wise, he’s really unique. He can play off the ball. He can play on the ball. He does a good job of transitioning his vision. You know, sometimes when you go behind the line of scrimmage, you’ve got to adjust your vision, but he does that very well. And then I would say his explosive power. When you watch him pass rush, he can have some great skill pass rushing on the edge. But even in the run game, just that explosive pop that he can have.”

The power and explosion is something that Hicks is confident that he’ll be able to bring to the defense this year. And if people doubt him, they might want to watch themselves.

“A lot of people think because of the fact that I am 240, I don’t have any power, but I can definitely run through somebody’s face if I need to,” he said.

As a linebacker, Hicks was viewed as somebody who could be an effective blitzer. Now he’s closer to the line and attacking the ball on just about every play. It will be different for him, but there will also be some familiarity to it.

“This year is kind of different because obviously I’m closer to the ball, but it kind of feels the same,” he said. “The thing I like being able to blitz is I like timing things up and being able to run full speed and be able to hit somebody and catch them off guard. And that’s what I’m able to do now, just on the ball and closer to them.”

This is CJ Hicks last year with the Buckeyes. This is his last spring. Everything he does will be the last time he’s doing it. Now at a new position, however, it will also be the first time he’s doing these things.

There is definitely urgency to get ready for the season, but this is still the early part of spring, so Hicks knows he’s got time to get where he needs to be.

“Every little drill that we do, I try to make sure I’m doing it to the T,” he said. “I don’t like to mess up. That’s why you see me after practice working with Coach Johnson or Coach Patricia, because I know it’s very urgent, but I still feel like I have time. It’s only the spring. We have 158 days until we play Texas.”