Despite being the No. 1-ranked linebacker and No. 7 overall prospect in the recruiting class of 2022, C.J. Hicks didn’t play a single defensive snap for Ohio State as a true freshman.
Such was life for a linebacker outside the two-deep on Ohio State’s depth chart in Jim Knowles’ first season as defensive coordinator. Tommy Eichenberg and Steele Chambers played the vast majority of snaps as Ohio State’s starting linebackers, and the Buckeyes never played more than four linebackers in any game, except Teradja Mitchell playing one snap in a four-linebacker package against Northwestern.
That said, Hicks still found a way to contribute as a true freshman by establishing himself as a regular on special teams.