Football standout Hicks picks Texas over Ohio State, Florida

Lakota West High School linebacker Jordan Hicks declared his commitment to the University of Texas Friday, Jan. 29, 2010. To his left is his mother, Kelly Justice.

WEST CHESTER TWP. — The suspense is over.

Lakota West High senior outside linebacker Jordan Hicks announced on Friday afternoon, Jan. 29, that he will play football at the University of Texas.

His long-awaited decision came down to the Longhorns, Ohio State and Florida.

“I just felt like it was the best fit for me,” said Hicks, who pulled out a Texas hat and put it on to reveal his choice. “I felt real comfortable there. It was in my heart.”

Hicks informed Texas coach Mack Brown of his decision on Thursday afternoon and then let OSU’s Jim Tressel and Florida’s Urban Meyer know of his decision.

“I was actually sitting down with my mom (Kelly Justice) going over the likes and dislikes about every school,” said Hicks, who realized earlier in the week Texas was his school. “There are a lot of similarities with all three schools. The differences are the little things, the trust factor, they pay attention to what we say. It was clear that Texas was the place.”

Hicks, who moved to Ohio in the sixth grade, said that distance and living in the state were not factors in his decision. He took official visits to all three schools.

“Coming back from each visit, I felt that was the place for me,” said Hicks, who’s been on the Texas campus in Austin twice. “But that’s the way you feel coming off a visit. When I sat back and thought about it, it was the best place for me.”

The 6-foot-2, 215-pound Hicks is the No. 4 prep player in the country in the ESPNU 150 rankings and arguably the top prep linebacker in the nation.

“I’m very proud to have gone through this experience with Kelly and Jordan,” West coach Larry Cox said. “He handled it the right way. This is a day of celebration. It’s emotional a little bit. He’s a young man I’ve seen grow from being a boy as an eighth-grader to somebody take the biggest step of his life. I couldn’t be prouder.”

This past season, Hicks registered 95 total tackles (13 for loss), three sacks and two interceptions.

He was named the co-Player of the Year in the Greater Miami Conference, Division I co-Defensive Player of the Year in the state, the Ohio Gatorade Player of the Year, the Butkus Award winner, a Parade All-American and played in the Under Armour All-American Game.