A former three-star safety recruit out of Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, Nevada, Jaden Hicks is now on the pro football radar.

Pro Football Focus ranked the top-five safeties for the 2024 NFL Draft, and Hicks came in fifth on the list. 

Hicks was a third-team Freshman All-American following a 2022–23 season where he recorded six passes defended, one interception, one sack and 75 tackles, good for most among Pac-12 freshman and second on the team. He also has NFL size, measuring 6 feet, 2 inches and weighing 212 pounds.

Having redshirted his first year at WSU, Hicks is eligible for the upcoming draft, and with the recognition he has continued to gain not only locally but nationally, he could have good reason to consider declaring at season’s end.

Hicks is part of a WSU secondary with two defensive backs on the Reese’s Senior Bowl watchlist. Overall, WSU looks to potentially have one of the top secondary’s in the conference, and Hicks has a case to be the top dog.

All Hicks can focus on now is the upcoming season, but come 2024, he may have a difficult decision.