Get to know 2025 signee Zelus Hicks
Whether you’re a diehard recruiting fan in need of a refresher or a casual fan in need of only the particulars, this will be the series for you.
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The first national signing day for college football begins December 4 and runs through December 6. This series gives you the chance to familiarize yourself with the next class charged with keeping Texas in a position of national prominence.
To win at a consistently high level means stacking talented class after talented class. The top-five 2025 class does just that following top-six finishes in the 2022, 2023, and 2024 classes.
On the first national signing day, Inside Texas will offer profiles of each member of the 2025 signing class. Up next, Zelus Hicks.
The Player: Zelus Hicks, S, Carrollton (Ga.)
The Rating: 90.77 (four-star)
The Ranking: Hicks is ranked as the No. 244 overall prospect, the No. 20 safety, and the No. 33 player in Georgia in the On3 Industry Ranking. On3 ranks Hicks as the No. 296 overall prospect, the No. 26 safety, and the No. 37 player in Georgia.
The Highlights:
The Recruitment: While a 2026 prospect, Hicks took multiple visits to Austin and once it was time for him to make a decision, he selected the Longhorns with a desire to be part of the 2026 class. Like his high school teammate Julian Lewis, Hicks reclassified and despite late flirtations with Tennessee, Florida, and Colorado, a late-season official visit to Texas maintained Hicks’ pledge and kept him in UT’s strong 2025 defensive back class.
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The Projection: He has a big frame at 6-foot-1.5 and 180 pounds as a junior, and he’ll play at 6-foot-2 and 205 or heavier in a few years’ time. Hicks does his best work closing space and making tackles or plays on the ball from a deeper perch from which he can see things develop. He’d probably end up as a boundary safety in the Longhorn defense, where he can stay relatively close to the box.
The Reasoning: Hicks made two trips to Austin, one in April for a spring scrimmage and another in June for Texas’ Elite Camp. He picked up his Texas offer on May 1st.
“(Steve Sarkisian’s) message was he really likes me, he really likes my character as a person, and he likes that I’ve got a good family foundation,” Hicks said in June. “Those were the main things he was pressing on me.”
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The Final Word: At Texas, Hicks is projected to take on a strong safety role, similar to Derek Williams. His versatility allows him to cover tight ends and running backs while being tough enough to act as a fourth linebacker, offering critical support in run defense. Additionally, Hicks is expected to make an immediate impact on special teams and grow into a significant contributor on defense over time.