Louisville football: 5 defensive players with the most to prove in 2019

Robert Hicks – ILB

There’s a number of reasons why Robert Hicks comes in first on our list of players that have the most to prove in 2019. Hicks was the star of the 2018 recruiting class, the last class completed by the previous staff, and he came into his freshman season at Louisville with tons of hype.

To no one’s fault but the staff, Hicks only saw the field in small doses, looking like a potential star at the linebacker position at times – while looking like a freshman adjusting to the speed of the game in others. Regardless, you could tell that the talent was there and Hicks just needed more time on the field to become the player he could be.

With Satterfield and company coming onboard we knew that some players would be switched around and moved to new positions and new roles, but I don’t think anyone saw Hicks as a player who could be moved. But that’s exactly what happened.

After finishing the season with 24 tackles, and .5 sacks, and showing potential as a linebacker, Hicks was moved to the defensive line, in what at the time looked to be a head-scratching move. Hicks, apparently felt the same way as he entered his name in the transfer portal and officially began looking elsewhere for his chance to star at the linebacker position.

Leaving a huge hole at the linebacker position, things looked bleak after Hicks decided to transfer, especially considering the other players the Cards had lost at the time to the transfer portal. But after a lot of thought, Hicks eventually decided to return to Louisville and the coaching staff rewarded his patience and trust in them and moved him back to the linebacker position.

This season the sophomore should see a lot of time on the field playing alongside Dorian Etheridge, C.J. Avery (who was also moved to ILB), graduate transfer T.J. Holl, and true freshmen Zach Edwards and Dorian Jones. With Hicks back, the Cards now have a lot of depth at the position and a variety of players that present real versatility.

While Hicks isn’t known for his speed, something that could hinder him at the position slightly, he’s a solid tackler who plays very well in the run game and has the ability to cover over the middle of the field.

After pulling his name out of the transfer portal and moving back to his true position, Hicks will have to show the staff that he’s dedicated and willing to do whatever it takes to prove he can be a great player. When given the chance this season, I fully expect Hicks to show the staff that they made the right decision keeping him at linebacker.