A year later, Georgia the apple of elite 2026 safety Zelus Hicks’ eye

For the first time in history, Toni! Toni! Tone!’s hit ‘Aniversary’ applies to the game of football and Lilburn (Ga.) Parkview 2026 safety Zelus Hicks.

Entering the Corky-Kell – Dave Hunter Classic Hicks was an unknown freshman pushing for playing time amongst blue chips in the Tigers’ secondary.

Hicks got on the field as Parkview pulled away and snagged his first interception. His name became one to know almost overnight.

Hicks didn’t have any offers at the time. One program was already eying him. Georgia had Hicks at camp a few weeks prior to the season opener. The Bulldogs’ staff knew Hicks had the potential of a star.

A few weeks later, they offered him while he was on campus on a visit. Today, Hicks has 16 college offers. He still holds dear how Georgia believed in him first.

“I just find it crazy,” Hicks said. “For that big of an offer to be my first offer, that just shows that I have potential and that I have to keep working so that I can reach my full potential. I just have to keep my head straight after getting a big offer like that.”

Georiga continues to be a major contender early for Zelus Hicks

Hicks is a long way away from signing a national letter of intent. Georgia continues to be a program that Hicks has high on his board.

On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine agrees. The Bulldogs have a 36.2 percent chance of landing the 6-foot-3, 175-pound safety according to RPM.

Hicks has visited Georgia more than anywhere else up until this point. He’s learned a lot about Georgia during those three visits.

“It’s been a really good year with Georgia,” Hicks said. “I’ve learned a lot about Georgia. For them to offer me and then go win the national championship is really big…The freshman safety that they have, Malaki Starks, I liked how he developed. I really go there a lot now. It’s like a second home. I know everybody up there, the entire staff. I have a good relationship with them.”

Year two expectations

When he’s on Georgia’s campus the Bulldogs give Hicks a vote of confidence. At the tip of that confidence is Georgia defensive backs coach Fran Brown.

“Coach Fran is really cool,” Hicks said. “He really believes in me. He has a lot of faith in me… When I’m there he says I’m going to be the number one safety in the nation when my time comes.”

Hicks will be entering his first season as a full-time starter. He split a lot of snaps in 2022 as a freshman. He’ll also be playing more offense in 2023.

Hicks feels it’s a chance to check some of the boxes the outside world may have. Hicks feels he’s improved on multiple levels ahead of this season.

“I think the perception of me now is a question mark,” Hicks said. “Freshman year can be a fluke or something. This year I’m going to come out every play and I’m going to do something great. I got way faster over the summer. I’ve done a lot of explosive drills. I’ve worked on my ball skills. I’m also in the rotation with the wide receivers, so I’ll be playing both sides of the ball.”

Hicks plans on making a few games in Athens this fall.

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