Previewing the 2025 season for Texas A&M DL DJ Hicks with his player profile
As we gear up for the 2025 football season, Aggies Wire is breaking down every player on the Texas A&M roster. Throughout the preseason, each profile will highlight the player's background, recruiting rankings out of high school, and their projected role under head coach Mike Elko this year.
DJ Hicks, the top-rated recruit from Texas A&M's 2023 class, enters the season as a veteran presence on the defensive line. The Aggies will rely on Hicks to help fortify their run defense, lining up alongside Albert Regis and Cashius Howell to create a formidable front.
While Hicks' statistics through two seasons may not leap off the page, his experience across 24 games, mostly in rotational roles behind current NFL talent, has prepared him for a breakout junior year. With his name now penciled in atop the depth chart, Hicks is expected to see his most significant playing time yet.
Preseason Player Profile
Hometown: Katy, Texas
Height: 6-5
Weight: 310 lbs.
Class in 2025: Junior
Recruiting Rankings (Class of 2023)
National: No. 11
No. 11 Position (DL): No. 1
No. 1 Texas: No. 2
The former five-star prospect, Hicks earned 2022 Texas District 19-6A Co-Defensive MVP honors his senior year. After contributing in nearly every game since arriving in College Station, 2025 could be the year he cements his legacy.
Depth Chart Outlook
For the first time, Hicks enters fall camp as a projected starter, listed beside senior Albert Regis. Expect him to play a key role in Texas A&M's defensive success this season. Here's what coach Mike Elko had to say about the junior DL during the Dallas Coach's Night:
"I think DJ Hicks is probably that guy who is going to step into that limelight this year and fulfill his potential."
Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Jarrett Johnson on X: @whosnextsports1.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
a minute ago
- Yahoo
Texas A&M senior RB predicted to lead the SEC in rushing this season
Texas A&M's 2025 running game will be headlined by senior running back Le'Veon Moss, who, after missing the final four games of the 2024 season due to a lower body injury sustained against South Carolina, will be back. Moss is back and 100% healthy, according to himself and head coach Mike Elko, which was further confirmed during the first two practices of the preseason last week. However, Moss has not received the national coverage he deserves, while a small portion of the Aggie fan base is worried that he could face issues returning to complete form, based on the wear and tear of playing running back in the SEC. Still, Moss has dealt with setbacks in the past, and the depth behind him, including Rueben Owens, Amari Daniels, EJ Smith, and freshmen Deondrae Riden and Jamarion Morrow. Last season, depth was a significant issue after Rueben Owens was lost early in the preseason, leaving just Amari Daniels and EJ Smith, who was also dealing with an injury, as the only options behind Moss. As we all witnessed, the lack of depth hurt the Aggie offense, forcing starting quarterback Marcel Reed to drop back more than OC Collin Klein wanted late in the season. On Saturday, Michael Bratton of That SEC Podcast listed his top 10 SEC running backs who will finish the 2025 season as the top rushers, and for what seems like the first time all offseason, Bratton chose Le'Veon Moss to finish the year as the leading rusher in the SEC. Before his injury, Moss led the SEC with 765 rushing yards and ten touchdowns while averaging 6.3 yards per carry. Currently listed at 5'11" and 210 pounds, Moss is a complete back with a bright NFL future, and if he stays healthy, combined with the offense living up to its elite potential, expect Moss not only to lead the SEC in rushing, but also to finish in the top five nationally. Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty. This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M RB Le'Veon Moss predicted to lead the SEC in rushing
Yahoo
13 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Previewing the 2025 season for Texas A&M RB Rueben Owens II with his player profile
As we gear up for the 2025 football season, Aggies Wire is breaking down every player on the Texas A&M roster. Throughout the preseason, each profile will highlight a player's background, recruiting rankings out of high school, and projected role under head coach Mike Elko. Rueben Owens II had a strong start to his Aggie career, with the staff finding multiple ways to get the ball in his hands. He appeared in all 13 games, starting five, and amassed a freshman league-leading 743 all-purpose yards. His versatility stood out: 385 rushing yards, 109 receiving yards, and 249 return yards with three touchdowns earned him a spot on the 2023 SEC All-Freshman Team. Unfortunately for Owens, he suffered a foot injury early in fall camp, keeping him sidelined until Week 14. In 2024, he played just two games, was eased back into the lineup, and carried the ball 16 times for 66 yards—averaging 4.1 yards per attempt. With a veteran offensive line returning, a fully healthy Owens should pay big dividends for the Aggie rushing attack. Preseason Player Profile Hometown: El Campo, Texas Height: 6-0 Weight: 215 lbs. Class in 2025: Sophomore (Medical Redshirt) Recruiting Rankings (Class of 2023) National: No. 24 Position (RB): No. 2 Texas: No. 5 The former five-star prospect was one of the top running backs in the 2023 class and ranked among the Top 25 players in the country. A two-sport star, he earned titles as the Texas District 12-4 D-1 Overall MVP and Class 4A Co-Offensive Player of the Year. His resume includes 7,000 rushing yards and 100 career touchdowns in high school, along with a sub-11.00 time in the 100-meter dash, earning him a spot on the 247Sports 2023 Freaks List. He also participated in the 2023 Army All-American Bowl and Polynesian Bowl. Depth Chart Outlook The running back room might be one of the most talented in the NCAA, with a healthy mix of experience and youth. Owens II is expected to start the season as the lead back while Le'Veon Moss recovers from a late-season injury. However, given the depth, expect to see several backs rotating in early on. Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Jarrett Johnson on X: @whosnextsports1. This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M running back Rueben Owens II 2025 player profile
USA Today
33 minutes ago
- USA Today
Texas A&M senior RB predicted to lead the SEC in rushing this season
Texas A&M's 2025 running game will be headlined by senior running back Le'Veon Moss, who, after missing the final four games of the 2024 season due to a lower body injury sustained against South Carolina, will be back. Moss is back and 100% healthy, according to himself and head coach Mike Elko, which was further confirmed during the first two practices of the preseason last week. However, Moss has not received the national coverage he deserves, while a small portion of the Aggie fan base is worried that he could face issues returning to complete form, based on the wear and tear of playing running back in the SEC. Still, Moss has dealt with setbacks in the past, and the depth behind him, including Rueben Owens, Amari Daniels, EJ Smith, and freshmen Deondrae Riden and Jamarion Morrow. Last season, depth was a significant issue after Rueben Owens was lost early in the preseason, leaving just Amari Daniels and EJ Smith, who was also dealing with an injury, as the only options behind Moss. As we all witnessed, the lack of depth hurt the Aggie offense, forcing starting quarterback Marcel Reed to drop back more than OC Collin Klein wanted late in the season. On Saturday, Michael Bratton of That SEC Podcast listed his top 10 SEC running backs who will finish the 2025 season as the top rushers, and for what seems like the first time all offseason, Bratton chose Le'Veon Moss to finish the year as the leading rusher in the SEC. Before his injury, Moss led the SEC with 765 rushing yards and ten touchdowns while averaging 6.3 yards per carry. Currently listed at 5'11" and 210 pounds, Moss is a complete back with a bright NFL future, and if he stays healthy, combined with the offense living up to its elite potential, expect Moss not only to lead the SEC in rushing, but also to finish in the top five nationally. Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.
