Scout's Take: What Texas A&M gets with 5-star DL David Hicks

One of the undisputed building blocks of success in the SEC is the defensive line. Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher is a believer.

On Wednesday, the Aggies added another elite defensive lineman when five-star Katy (Texas) Paetow defensive lineman David Hicks announced his commitment to A&M over Oklahoma.

The 6-foot-4, 270-pounder is the sixth five-star defensive lineman that the Aggies have landed in the past three recruiting cycles, with one each in 2021 and 2023, and four in 2022.

Hicks has been a five-star prospect in On3’s rankings, where he checks in as the country’s No. 16 overall prospect, since his junior season. Director of Scouting and Rankings Charles Power believes he has ready-made skills to have an early impact in College Station next year.

“He is physically advanced; one of the first things that jump out is how developed he is,” Power said. “Extremely strong, well-built, and he’s continued to add size as well. I think he’s up close to 270-280 pound range. He initially began high school as a pass-rusher and has grown into a defensive line prospect long-term. That advanced development and play strength has really shown on the field going back to his sophomore year and continues to throughout his junior and senior year.”

David Hicks is ahead of the curve in his development

For many defensive linemen at the high school level, there’s a significant developmental and learning curve to be an impactful player early in their careers. But Hicks, the son of a former NFL defensive lineman, stands out in how effectively he’s able to translate his size and athleticism into production.

“He’s a good athlete for his size; when you see him on the camp circuit, he moves extremely well,” Power added. “He’s been well-coached, has good hands, and all the technical ability is there. I would say he is probably ahead of the curve from a technical standpoint compared to some of the other defensive linemen in this class. It’s a strong year in the defensive line cycle, but he’s always been one of the top ones. He’s shown some real disruptive ability as a pass-rusher and a defender.”

Latest addition to an elite defensive line room

Texas A&M has long lingered on the fringe of being an SEC contender under Fisher, but the Aggies are hoping that this class, along with the 2022 crop which ranked No. 1 overall, can change that.

Hicks is the second defensive lineman this cycle to join up with the Aggies, alongside three-star Samu Taumanupepe. Not only does A&M add another notch on the recruiting belt with the five-star, but he gives them the kind of depth at the position to truly compete at the top of the SEC.

“For one, this a marquee recruiting win,” Power said. “But in terms of how it translates on the field, this is the type of lineman you need to make noise in the SEC and to be able to go up and face the Alabamas of the world. Winning these type of battles will really fortify the kind of defensive front you need to play in the SEC. … And I think adding David Hicks as a foundational piece — it’s hard to do much better than that in this cycle.”