Hicks hopes to get in his licks against ASU

TEMPE, Ariz. – It’s happened quite suddenly, but Xavier Hicks is now the wizened veteran of the Washington State secondary.

“Xavier did a nice job when he came back, in terms of leadership and some experience,” WSU coach Paul Wulff said this week, alluding to Hicks’ three-game suspension to begin the season because of off-field incidents.

“He’s about the only guy who has any kind of experience in the secondary who’s played for us all year.”

But going into the Arizona State game last season, Hicks was just another inexperienced redshirt sophomore. A backup to strong safety Alfonso Jackson, Hicks had shown a talent for explosive hits in practice and an occasional game appearance. But it hadn’t really manifested itself.

That changed last Oct. 6.

“It was my first start,” said Hicks, who replaced Jackson against ASU that day after the latter couldn’t go because of a concussion. “I was excited to be out there.

“I look forward to every game, trying to get as many tackles as you can, but coming out in your first actual collegiate start, to have a good game like that, it’s kind of hard to repeat it.”

Flying around in the Cougars’ scheme, Hicks made 10 solo tackles, a couple of the teeth-jarring variety, added another seven assists and led a WSU defense that limited the high-scoring Sun Devils to 23 points.

“I know we were blitzing a lot,” said Hicks, who shared the defensive spotlight with then-linebacker Andy Mattingly and his four sacks. “We were in that 3-4 defense and when you blitz, you let the safeties be the unblocked person. When we come down to hit, it’s usually in the open gaps.”

Hicks got the tackles, but ASU got the win, 23-20 as Thomas Webber capped a late drive with the winning 37-yard field goal. It’s that last drive that haunts Hicks a little. Maybe one more tackle and the outcome would have been different.

So he’s got a thought for today’s rematch.

“I want to do better. Hopefully, 18 this time,” Hicks said.

That’s something Wulff would welcome in a heartbeat, especially considering Hicks didn’t play his best game in last week’s loss to Arizona.

“He didn’t play as well as he’s capable this past week, but he has played pretty solid throughout,” Wulff said.