MTK
04-30-2007, 02:42 PM
NFL.com profile:
NFL.com - Prospect Profiles (http://www.nfl.com/draft/profiles/2007/hickman_justin)
Following in the footsteps of former All-American David Ball, Hickman continued the Bruins' relentless pressure on opposing quarterbacks from the left defensive end position. In the four seasons that Karl Dorrell has served as the Bruins' head coach, the team has used its left defensive ends to wreak havoc in the backfield, registering 37½ sacks and 55 tackles behind the line of scrimmage from starters at that position.
Hickman was a standout defensive end and offensive guard at St. Mary's High School, where he led his team to the Desert Valley Region Championship in his senior season. He was named first-team Desert Valley Region as a senior on defense and received second-team honors on offense. As a junior, he was selected second-team Desert Valley Region on offense. He also lettered in track in the throwing events.
Hickman's family has a devout following of Southern California football. His father, Donnie, was an offensive lineman from 1974-76 for the Trojans and was selected by the Rams in the fifth round of the 1977 NFL Draft. But Justin spurned the school's scholarship offer and enrolled at Glendale Community College in 2003 to improve his academics.
He earned first-team Western States Football League honors that season and received a four-star rating from Max Emfinger. Hickman appeared in 10 games as a defensive end, coming up with 60 tackles (34 solos), 8½ sacks and 10 stops for losses in 10 games. After the season, he transferred to UCLA.
In his first season under coach Dorrell's guidance, Hickman appeared in 10 games in 2004, starting eight contests at defensive end (two at left end, six at right end), but missed a pair of games with a left knee torn meniscus that required in-season surgery. He finished with 22 tackles (10 solos), 1½ sacks and four stops for losses during his first season at UCLA.
In 2005, he started twice at left end and 10 times on the right side, posting 31 tackles (20 solos). Hickman added 5½ sacks, eight stops behind the line of scrimmage and a fumble recovery, earning Hendricks Award Watch List recognition (given to the nation's top defensive end).
Hickman was a finalist for the Hendricks Award in 2006, as he added first-team All-American honors. He was named the team's MVP, as he tied fellow defensive end Bruce Davis for fourth nationally with 12½ sacks. He ranked 10th in Division I-A with 19 stops for losses, adding 42 tackles (30 solos) from his left end position. He also caused two fumbles, deflected two passes and blocked one kick.
In 35 games at UCLA, Hickman started 33 times (17 at left end, 16 at right end). He came up with 95 tackles (60 solos), as he ranks ninth on the school's all-time record list with 19½ sacks for minus-133 yards. He registered 31 stops for losses of 173 yards and added three quarterback pressures. He caused two fumbles, recovered another and deflected two passes while also blocking one kick. For his entire collegiate career, Hickman collected 155 tackles (94 solos) with 28 sacks and 41 tackles behind the line of scrimmage.
ANALYSIS
Positives: Smooth-muscled type with thick thighs and calves … Move-oriented type of pass rusher who needs a free lane to be most effective … Shows good balance working down the line, keeping his hands active to defeat blocks … Has a quick initial step and good crossover arm action to slip underneath the slower offensive linemen … Has enough upper body strength to combat single blocks and is good at anticipating the pre-snap … Effective on stunts and has the second gear to close in a hurry in backside pursuit … Closes on the pocket with good urgency, keeping his pad level down while taking good angles to collapse the pocket … Lacks the size, bulk or frame to carry additional weight to be a pro-style defensive end, but shows enough foot speed, body control, balance and lateral agility to switch to linebacker in a 3-4 alignment … Knows how to use his initial burst to be a disruptive pass rusher who gains leverage with his strong straight-ahead charge off the snap … Shows a combative nature fighting down the line … Stays in control, going low in his stance and extending his arms properly to grab, contain and wrap before the tackle … Uses his short-area speed to collapse the pocket and bring down the quarterback in the backfield … Not naturally instinctive, but seems comfortable as a rush end in the "46" defense … Sheds with effectiveness and works hard to protect himself from cut blocks … Shows good chase and pursue effort, playing on his feet while executing tackles along the perimeter … Flashes decent wrap-up tackle ability in closed quarters, showing explosiveness on contact … One reason for a possible move to linebacker is to take advantage of his loose hips, which allow him to get depth in his pass drops … Stalls in transition at the X's when having to work through a crowd, but when he sinks his hips and accelerates off the edge, he has the ability to cause havoc in the backfield.
Negatives: Classic 'tweener who lacks the natural instincts, needing a clean lane in order to get off blocks and make tackles in the backfield … Needs to play with a more consistent motor, as he does shut down when his initial moves fail … Has good strength, but prefers to avoid blockers rather than generate his upper body strength to stack and control … Best when coming off the edge, as he lacks the size or feel for shooting the inside gaps (gets into too many stalemates against double teams) … Relies more on his burst, lacking good swim and rip moves in his pass rush … Will need time to develop if moved to linebacker, as he was rarely used to drop back in pass coverage … Can be misdirected trying to move through the pile, showing marginal read-and-react ability to diagnose plays … More of a straight-line charger, lacking the power to redirect inside, where he would be bounced around due to multiple blocks … When he gets too tall in his stance and keeps his hands outside the frame, he will get locked out by the blockers, as he allows them to get their hands into his chest, losing leverage … Gets a little too overaggressive in his pursuit and lacks the stop-and-go action to get back into the play … Needs to be more alert to blocking schemes, as he tends to get tunnel vision charging the quarterback, making him susceptible to low blocks (lacks vision to pick up the cut blocker).
Compares To: Akin Ayodele, Dallas Cowboys … Hickman is in the same mold as Ayodele, an undersized defensive end who might be a better fit for linebacker in a 3-4 alignment … Some scouts feel he has the range to play on the outside, but he has questionable ball reaction skills in pass coverage and his size and ability to keep plays in front of him might be a better fit for an inside linebacker slot at the next level.
INJURY REPORT
2004: Suffered a torn left knee meniscus vs. Arizona (Oct. 9), undergoing surgery (Oct. 15) that caused him to sit out the California (Oct. 16) and Arizona State (Oct. 23) games.
2005: Missed the second half of the Rice game (Sept. 10) with a left shoulder contusion.
AGILITY TESTS
Campus: 4.74 in the 40-yard dash … 365-pound bench press … 320-pound power clean … 32-inch vertical jump.
Combine: 4.75 in the 40-yard dash … Benched 225 pounds 23 times … 29½-inch vertical jump … 9-foot-7 broad jump … 4.43 20-yard shuttle run … 7.06 three-cone drill.
HIGH SCHOOL
Attended St. Mary's (Phoenix, Ariz.) High School, playing football for head coach John Rodriguez … Saw action at defensive end and at offensive guard … Team won the Desert Valley Region Championship in his senior season … Named first-team Desert Valley Region as a senior on defense and earned second-team honors on offense … s a junior, he was selected second-team Desert Valley Region on offense … Also lettered in track in the throwing events.
PERSONAL
History major … Son of Bridget and Donnie Hickman … Father played football at Southern California, where he was an offensive lineman from 1974-76 and was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the fifth round of the 1977 NFL Draft … Born Justin Charles Hickman on July 20, 1985 in El Paso, Texas … Resides in Glendale, Ariz.
NFL.com - Prospect Profiles (http://www.nfl.com/draft/profiles/2007/hickman_justin)
Following in the footsteps of former All-American David Ball, Hickman continued the Bruins' relentless pressure on opposing quarterbacks from the left defensive end position. In the four seasons that Karl Dorrell has served as the Bruins' head coach, the team has used its left defensive ends to wreak havoc in the backfield, registering 37½ sacks and 55 tackles behind the line of scrimmage from starters at that position.
Hickman was a standout defensive end and offensive guard at St. Mary's High School, where he led his team to the Desert Valley Region Championship in his senior season. He was named first-team Desert Valley Region as a senior on defense and received second-team honors on offense. As a junior, he was selected second-team Desert Valley Region on offense. He also lettered in track in the throwing events.
Hickman's family has a devout following of Southern California football. His father, Donnie, was an offensive lineman from 1974-76 for the Trojans and was selected by the Rams in the fifth round of the 1977 NFL Draft. But Justin spurned the school's scholarship offer and enrolled at Glendale Community College in 2003 to improve his academics.
He earned first-team Western States Football League honors that season and received a four-star rating from Max Emfinger. Hickman appeared in 10 games as a defensive end, coming up with 60 tackles (34 solos), 8½ sacks and 10 stops for losses in 10 games. After the season, he transferred to UCLA.
In his first season under coach Dorrell's guidance, Hickman appeared in 10 games in 2004, starting eight contests at defensive end (two at left end, six at right end), but missed a pair of games with a left knee torn meniscus that required in-season surgery. He finished with 22 tackles (10 solos), 1½ sacks and four stops for losses during his first season at UCLA.
In 2005, he started twice at left end and 10 times on the right side, posting 31 tackles (20 solos). Hickman added 5½ sacks, eight stops behind the line of scrimmage and a fumble recovery, earning Hendricks Award Watch List recognition (given to the nation's top defensive end).
Hickman was a finalist for the Hendricks Award in 2006, as he added first-team All-American honors. He was named the team's MVP, as he tied fellow defensive end Bruce Davis for fourth nationally with 12½ sacks. He ranked 10th in Division I-A with 19 stops for losses, adding 42 tackles (30 solos) from his left end position. He also caused two fumbles, deflected two passes and blocked one kick.
In 35 games at UCLA, Hickman started 33 times (17 at left end, 16 at right end). He came up with 95 tackles (60 solos), as he ranks ninth on the school's all-time record list with 19½ sacks for minus-133 yards. He registered 31 stops for losses of 173 yards and added three quarterback pressures. He caused two fumbles, recovered another and deflected two passes while also blocking one kick. For his entire collegiate career, Hickman collected 155 tackles (94 solos) with 28 sacks and 41 tackles behind the line of scrimmage.
ANALYSIS
Positives: Smooth-muscled type with thick thighs and calves … Move-oriented type of pass rusher who needs a free lane to be most effective … Shows good balance working down the line, keeping his hands active to defeat blocks … Has a quick initial step and good crossover arm action to slip underneath the slower offensive linemen … Has enough upper body strength to combat single blocks and is good at anticipating the pre-snap … Effective on stunts and has the second gear to close in a hurry in backside pursuit … Closes on the pocket with good urgency, keeping his pad level down while taking good angles to collapse the pocket … Lacks the size, bulk or frame to carry additional weight to be a pro-style defensive end, but shows enough foot speed, body control, balance and lateral agility to switch to linebacker in a 3-4 alignment … Knows how to use his initial burst to be a disruptive pass rusher who gains leverage with his strong straight-ahead charge off the snap … Shows a combative nature fighting down the line … Stays in control, going low in his stance and extending his arms properly to grab, contain and wrap before the tackle … Uses his short-area speed to collapse the pocket and bring down the quarterback in the backfield … Not naturally instinctive, but seems comfortable as a rush end in the "46" defense … Sheds with effectiveness and works hard to protect himself from cut blocks … Shows good chase and pursue effort, playing on his feet while executing tackles along the perimeter … Flashes decent wrap-up tackle ability in closed quarters, showing explosiveness on contact … One reason for a possible move to linebacker is to take advantage of his loose hips, which allow him to get depth in his pass drops … Stalls in transition at the X's when having to work through a crowd, but when he sinks his hips and accelerates off the edge, he has the ability to cause havoc in the backfield.
Negatives: Classic 'tweener who lacks the natural instincts, needing a clean lane in order to get off blocks and make tackles in the backfield … Needs to play with a more consistent motor, as he does shut down when his initial moves fail … Has good strength, but prefers to avoid blockers rather than generate his upper body strength to stack and control … Best when coming off the edge, as he lacks the size or feel for shooting the inside gaps (gets into too many stalemates against double teams) … Relies more on his burst, lacking good swim and rip moves in his pass rush … Will need time to develop if moved to linebacker, as he was rarely used to drop back in pass coverage … Can be misdirected trying to move through the pile, showing marginal read-and-react ability to diagnose plays … More of a straight-line charger, lacking the power to redirect inside, where he would be bounced around due to multiple blocks … When he gets too tall in his stance and keeps his hands outside the frame, he will get locked out by the blockers, as he allows them to get their hands into his chest, losing leverage … Gets a little too overaggressive in his pursuit and lacks the stop-and-go action to get back into the play … Needs to be more alert to blocking schemes, as he tends to get tunnel vision charging the quarterback, making him susceptible to low blocks (lacks vision to pick up the cut blocker).
Compares To: Akin Ayodele, Dallas Cowboys … Hickman is in the same mold as Ayodele, an undersized defensive end who might be a better fit for linebacker in a 3-4 alignment … Some scouts feel he has the range to play on the outside, but he has questionable ball reaction skills in pass coverage and his size and ability to keep plays in front of him might be a better fit for an inside linebacker slot at the next level.
INJURY REPORT
2004: Suffered a torn left knee meniscus vs. Arizona (Oct. 9), undergoing surgery (Oct. 15) that caused him to sit out the California (Oct. 16) and Arizona State (Oct. 23) games.
2005: Missed the second half of the Rice game (Sept. 10) with a left shoulder contusion.
AGILITY TESTS
Campus: 4.74 in the 40-yard dash … 365-pound bench press … 320-pound power clean … 32-inch vertical jump.
Combine: 4.75 in the 40-yard dash … Benched 225 pounds 23 times … 29½-inch vertical jump … 9-foot-7 broad jump … 4.43 20-yard shuttle run … 7.06 three-cone drill.
HIGH SCHOOL
Attended St. Mary's (Phoenix, Ariz.) High School, playing football for head coach John Rodriguez … Saw action at defensive end and at offensive guard … Team won the Desert Valley Region Championship in his senior season … Named first-team Desert Valley Region as a senior on defense and earned second-team honors on offense … s a junior, he was selected second-team Desert Valley Region on offense … Also lettered in track in the throwing events.
PERSONAL
History major … Son of Bridget and Donnie Hickman … Father played football at Southern California, where he was an offensive lineman from 1974-76 and was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the fifth round of the 1977 NFL Draft … Born Justin Charles Hickman on July 20, 1985 in El Paso, Texas … Resides in Glendale, Ariz.