5-star DL David Hicks signs with Texas A&M Aggies

Kay (Texas) Paetow five-star defensive lineman David Hicks has signed with Texas A&M.

The 6-foot-4, 270-pound Hicks is the No. 7 overall prospect and No. 1 defensive lineman in the 2023 class, according to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He’s also the No. 1 player in Texas.

Hicks chose to commit to the Aggies on September 28 picking them over Oklahoma. The decision is one that he said came down to his family.

“So it was like, do I want to stay close to home or do I want to go far away,” Hicks told On3 following the commitment. “Seeing my little brothers and sisters today and just seeing how happy they were and how happy they are seeing me around, I just wanted to stay around here and watch them grow up.”

Hicks currently has an On3 NIL Valuation of $322K. The On3 NIL Valuation is an index that looks to set the standard market value for both high school and college-level athletes. The NIL valuation does not act as a tracker of the value of NIL deals an athlete has completed to date. It rather signifies an athlete’s value at a certain moment in time.

David Hicks Scouting Summary

Physically-developed defensive lineman with advanced power along with length and quickness. Possesses a big frame with a muscled build and an 80-inch wingspan at 6-foot-4. Has brute strength which he pairs with initial quickness to create steady disruption along the line of scrimmage. Consistently shows quick and powerful hands at the point of attack with some advanced pass rush technique for a young defensive lineman. Very much a power player at this point in his development, but plays with some nuance and technical skill. Working at both defensive end and defensive tackle as a junior at a powerhouse program in Texas’ highest classification. A strong, but not elite athlete. Turned in dominant showings at college camps prior to his junior season.