C.J. Hicks

#1· South Florida ·EDGE ·Gr ·2027 Draft · Dayton, Ohio

6'3"Height 240 lbWeight

RepresentationNo agency on file

Elite TalentMulti-Year StarterReturning StarterTransfer

Edit

Overview Background Scouting Stats Media & News

High School Background

★★★★★

Stars

National

Position

State

HometownDayton, Ohio

High SchoolArchbishop Alter HS

Transfer History

Ohio State South Florida 2026 ★★★

#346

National

#34

Position

High School Offers 34

Akron Alabama Arkansas Cincinnati Clemson Florida State Georgia Tech Iowa Kansas State Kent State LSU Liberty Marshall Maryland Miami Miami (OH) Michigan Michigan State NC State Nebraska Notre Dame Ohio Ohio State Oregon Penn State Pittsburgh Purdue Tennessee Texas A&M Toledo Troy Virginia West Virginia Wisconsin

SCOUTSZN

Scouting Report

July 30, 2026

C.J. Hicks #1

South Florida · EDGE · Gr · 2027 Draft · Dayton, Ohio · Archbishop Alter HS

6-3 · 240 lbs

6.3

Priority UDFA

Floor 6.0 · Ceiling 6.4

#378 overall · #46 EDGE of 15096

Scouting Verdict

Un-buried on draft consensus: USF's most-mocked player (6 appearances in 2027 mocks) and the roster's one nationally-known name (five-star, No. 14 overall 2022). Graded to Day-3/draftable, NOT higher — the buzz is pedigree, not production (42 career tackles, 2.0 sacks in 44 Ohio State games).

Ceiling · 6.4

Projected 2026 starter (DL1) — real opportunity to climb; close to ceiling (+0.1) · AAC draft-temper.

Floor · 6.0

Proven starter — high, stable floor · returning-starter role secures it; downside −0.3.

Pedigree

5★ recruit · Natl #7 · Pos #1 · State #1

Path: Ohio State → South Florida

Profile Tags

Elite TalentMulti-Year StarterReturning StarterTransfer

College Production

Season	Team	GP	Tot	Solo	Sacks	PD
2025	Ohio State Buckeyes	13	6	2	—	—
2024	Ohio State Buckeyes	12	21	9	2	1
2023	Ohio State Buckeyes	12	8	5	—	—
2022	Ohio State Buckeyes	12	6	4	—	—