Ohio State Linebacker Commit C.J. Hicks on Becoming A Five-Star: “It Really Doesn’t Mean Anything If You Don’t Work and Grind”

The Ohio State linebacker commit, who was ranked as the 162nd-best player in his class when he committed to the Buckeyes less than a year ago, has steadily soared up the rankings to become the No. 1 player in the state of Ohio and the No. 2 outside linebacker in the 247Sports composite rankings for 2022.

Blessed to receive my 5th but never satisfied got more work to do #AGTG #GoBuckeyes pic.twitter.com/aHdCMONMUc

— CJ Hicks (@imcjhicks) April 9, 2021

Thanks to an excellent junior season at Archbishop Alter High School and strong showings on the camp circuit, the 6-foot-4, 218-pound future Buckeye has garnered national recognition as an elite prospect. But he doesn’t want to let that get to his head.

While Hicks was happy to finally see five stars next to his name last week, he’s still as hungry as ever to keep getting better.

“I’m happy to be a five-star, but really, ranking doesn’t mean anything to me, because once you get on the field, it doesn’t matter who you are, you gotta work,” Hicks said Sunday after participating in the Under Armour All-America Camp in Obetz, Ohio. “It really doesn’t mean anything if you don’t work and grind. You can have a title, but if you’re just sitting there on the couch playing video games and stuff like that, it’s not gonna mean anything. You gotta put the work into it, because once you get up to college, the rankings mean nothing. A two-star can beat out a five-star.”

Hicks says that mentality was inspired by a story he was told by one of his coaches years ago that served as a warning to never get complacent.

“My middle school coach always told me that there was a five-star who went to a school and never played, he ended up quitting because everything was handed to him in high school, and I’m not gonna be like that at all,” Hicks said. “I grind, I work for everything I’ve got, and I’m gonna continue to do that when I’m up at OSU.”

While Hicks is already locked in as one of the leaders of Ohio State’s recruiting class of 2022 – he’s now ranked as the third-highest prospect in a class that now has four five-star commitments (also including Quinn Ewers, Jaheim Singletary and Caleb Burton) – he still has goals he wants to accomplish in his senior season at Alter, so he’s working toward that this offseason.

Right now, he’s running track for Alter, but once track season is over, he’ll be looking to gain weight while maintaining the athleticism and stamina that allows him to play in all three phases of the game as a starting running back/receiver on offense, a linebacker on defense and a kick returner on special teams for the Knights.

He believes his ability to contribute in so many different ways, and what will ultimately lead to continued success at Ohio State, stems from his consistent effort and drive to get better.

“I give 110% at everything that I do,” Hicks said. “No matter what it is, I’m gonna work on it. And I’m a leader too. So if somebody needs help, I’m gonna help them. Even helping them can also help me.”

Off the field, the man known as “Captain Buckeye” is also working hard at recruiting more top players to join him in the Buckeyes’ class of 2022. He wouldn’t say on Sunday who those players are. But he did say Ohio State fans should expect good news after a large group of visitors spend the first weekend of June in Columbus for what has been dubbed “Buckeye Bash 2.0.”

“After the visit, we’re gonna have a bunch of commitments,” Hicks said. “For sure.”