Sa’Quan Hicks, Driven by TALENT

Sa’Quan Hicks, Driven by TALENT

by: Jasmine Ng – Lead Journalist

“My goal is to continue to climb the professional football ladder. I want to play in the CFL and the NFL. Ultimately, I feel as though I have come very far for a player who attended a high school without a football team. – Sa’Quan Hicks”

Every man’s goal is to make it somehow in the sport that he loves. Everyone man’s journey is different. Growing up for Sa’Quan Hicks he played tackle football for the first time at the age of 8 for the Northwood Rams of the Pop Warner league. This is the first time he ever fell in love for the game. The first position he ever set play on was cornerback. His dad had told him he just looked like a natural in the cornerback position. With the Northwood Rams, he was blessed to have won numerous MVP awards in his early career. As he got to high school Hicks was looking for a team to play on. To his unfortunate events, football was nowhere to be found in his high school. Despite of that unfortunate event, he still trained and played regularly given his passion for the sport.

In the case of the mishaps of not having the chance, Hicks never doubted his abilities even that short slump of not able to stay on board with the Morgan State Bears. He had his head held high still and started to train for phase two of his career. Phase two of his career was to attend a few professional tryouts.  After his first professional indoor season, Hicks had the chance to attend the NFL Regional Combine at the Baltimore Ravens facility. NFL Network had selected five defensive backs. He was one of the five that were chosen to be interviewed after the combine. Hicks he stands tall at 5’10 and 181Ibs and has a 40 inch vertical leap. He never had the chance to play high school football, it never stopped Hicks to strive for more. He got accepted into playing a D-1AA university. Hicks had the privilege to walk on to the Morgan State Bears football team. Eventually he had to leave the Bears due to the lost of financial aid.

As a cornerback, Hicks is a very dangerous return man. He can play free safety as well. But he is a cornerback by nature. He can run a 4.43. Hicks playing style is real competitive. As a cornerback he owns every pass that comes in his direction. As an athlete everyone is quite competitive. His level of competitive is to the extreme level. His patience with the line of scrimmage and his rare ability to shadow the top receiver has drawn comparisons to Darrelle Revis.

As a cornerback, Hicks says; “It takes some real guts to come up and press every play. It says a lot when you can do it and take good players out of the game.”

Hicks competitiveness is a major strength for him. His work ethic, his will and his drive are key examples. He has a lot of heart too. As a playmaker, he is always willing to attack a big running back or shadow and track the dominate receiver throughout the duration of the game. His speed, quickness, leaping ability and ball skills are another major strength. On the field, Hicks has accomplished many things despite the difficult path and journey. Throughout his career he has recorded 9 interceptions in a single season before and stamped a ticket to several all-star teams in outdoor football.

Aside from football, Hicks is a certified personal trainer, sports nutritionist, certified weight loss professional and a varsity high school football coach. He trains athletes of all ages, adults and seniors ^th in 2013 to the 3^rd in 2014. Aside from football, Hicks ran track and wrestling at a high level. He won many awards between the three different sports. He also became a great basketball player and was voted as team captain numerous times and let the teams to championships.

who are looking to lose weight. Last season he coached the cornerbacks and they only allowed 4 passing touchdowns after allowing 9 in 2013. He improved their pass, defense from the 24

Hicks training regiment consists of four days a week in lifts and incorporating a bunch of other balance workouts. He trains on the field two to three days a week with several dedicated and former teammates. He has the privilege to train with his Technique and Defensive Back coaches. Hicks trains with the most respectable defensive back coaches known nationally, Joseph Lee Jr and Rich Garcia. 

The most memorable game for Hicks was recording 5 tackles, a forced fumble and 3 interceptions with 1 return for a touchdown. A 1 hand interception at the peak when he jumped over 100+ return yards against a 6’4 highly athletic receivers.  As for 2014, Hicks most memorable moment was when he played against the #1 ranked national champions in the last four years in outdoor football team in the country.  The Central Penn Piranha produces some of the best receivers in the country.  They had targeted him three times that game. Hicks didn’t have any catches allowed by them and he had one pass breakout throughout the game playing mirror, press coverage. It was a satisfactory accomplishment against such a great legendary team.

To keep himself on top of the game, Hicks would speak with NFL and CFL scouts as often as he could. They would ensure him that they would not communicate with an athlete that doesn’t show much talent. As an athlete he considers himself to stick out from the pack because he loves the challenges. He would love to shadow the best receivers at every play.

“Only the best can shadow effectively and that is what I am known for doing. I have the ability to play all 4 cornerback positions in outdoor football and all 3 defensive back positions in indoor football. I attack every single pass that comes my way. I have very good ball skills and often make 1 hand catches look effortless. I have the confidence to challenge the best athletes on earth each play without having to devote a safety to my side of the field. Allowing that safety to be 100% comfortable and in better position to make plays. – Sa’Quan Hicks”

Sa’Quan Hicks goals are to focus on some weight gain and strength. He weighed at 170Ibs at the CFL Combine earlier this year and currently weighs at 180+Ibs. He emphasizes the bench press and adds 5-7 reps and up to 225 bench press over the past few months. He plans to earn a spot in the CFL roster in 2015. If that does not work out, he plans to attend the NFL Regional Combine that following season.

For Sa’Quan Hicks his biggest influences have always been his family. They always believed and supported him through the good and the bad. They show up for countless road trips to his games no matter where they are, from indoor or outdoor leagues. He believes that he is very blessed to have them around at all time.

Sa’Quan Hicks currently play for the ASI Panthers professional indoor team. You can check out his website (saquanhicks21.weebly.com). 

___________________________________SPECIAL SHOUT OUT____________________

First, I want to shout out my saviour, nothing is possible without him. Second, I want to shout out my family, the ultimate support system. Next, I have to shout out my defensive back coaches, the training, the methods, they are the best. Then, I have to shout out my mentors, current/former NFL, CFL, AFL and professional indoor legends/veterans. Last, I have to shout out my true friends and fan-base; I will never forget and are grateful for those who support me. 

Sa’Quan Hicks Resume

Height/Weight: 5’10, 181Ibs

Position: Cornerback

Hometown:  Baltimore City, MD

College: Morgan State

Career Highlights:

Morgan State Bear

Virginia Badgers (Indoor 2012)

Washington Eagles (Indoor 2013)

Lancaster Lightning (GDFL professional developmental league 2013, 2014)

Pennsylvania Steam (Indoor 2014)

ASI Panthers (Indoor 2014)

Player Showcase under Sports Agent Mike LaCourt. Mike has CFL, AFL and recent NFL clients.

 


2014 Statistics:

(10 games) 2 interceptions

6 pass breakups

19 targets

4 catches allowed for 35 total yards

0 touchdowns allowed

6 games with 0 catches allowed

Quarterbacks completed 21% of their passes when throwing at me

Quarterbacks also had a QB Rating of -17.4 when targeting me.

Film Highlights:

Indoor Football:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0lJvYjdPhY&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Outdoor Football:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvrV2HLohFA&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Explosive Leaping Ability:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90Z3_X0B1_M&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Check out his website (saquanhicks21.weebly.com).