Another depth player added to our secondary!
With the final pick of the draft for the Chicago Bears, GM Ryan Poles has selected S Elijah Hicks with the No. 254 overall pick.
Hicks, a California product, had a career-high 72 tackles as a fifth-year senior in 2021. He showed a nose for the ball, too, as he forced four fumbles in 12 games. Hicks did not receive a Combine invite and will start his career on the fringe of the Bears' roster.
In five seasons at Berkeley, he played 49 games, totalling 211 tackles.
A cornerback his first three seasons, Hicks moved to safety before the COVID-shortened 2020 season and shined at the position last fall. He had 72 tackles, three interceptions and forced four fumbles, earning first-team All-Pac-12 honors.
Check out a few quotes by Bears draft analyst Jacob infante on Hicks:
Hicks is a five-year starter at the Power 5 level, and that experience shows in his instincts. He's a quick processor on the back end, and when he makes a read, he doesn't hesitate to act upon it.
Hicks plays with a high motor, and that shows up both in coverage and against the run. He battles at the catch point despite being a bit smaller, and he has enough athleticism needed to cover up high. He started off his career as a cornerback, which gives him added versatility on defense. He's scrappy in man coverage and should be able to cover better than most safeties near the line of scrimmage
Hicks plays with a high motor, and that shows up both in coverage and against the run. He battles at the catch point despite being a bit smaller, and he has enough athleticism needed to cover up high. He started off his career as a cornerback, which gives him added versatility on defense. He's scrappy in man coverage and should be able to cover better than most safeties near the line of scrimmage
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