Hicks has four early offers

Solon, Ohio cornerback Darian Hicks is seeing his stock rise after four scholarship offers have come his way in recent weeks. The 6-0, 175-pound prospect detailed his offer list and what he knows about the four options currently on his list.

"I have four offers now from Penn State, Illinois, Michigan State and Boston College," Hicks reported.

Boston College was the first to extend an offer. He received news of their offer last month from his head coach. Michigan State was the second team to offer, and he received that directly from head coach Mark Dantonio.

"Their defensive coach and the head coach had come to our school because they were recruiting Tres Barksdale, Hicks said. "They wanted me to go down for their junior day, so I did and sat down with their defensive coach. Before I got up to leave he was saying Coach Dantonio wanted to talk with me. We talked and he offered me a scholarship."

After receiving the offer from Michigan State and visiting their East Lansing campus, Hicks said "I like that school a lot." He has yet to visit the other two schools on his offer list - Penn State and Illinois.

"I don't really know about Penn State. Joe Paterno was all I really knew about it," Hicks said.

"Illinois has the biggest weight room in the country. They want me to come down Feb. 26, so I'll have to check with my parents and see if they want to go or not."

Hicks did make a visit this past weekend, traveling to Columbus to attend Ohio State's junior day.

"That was fun and went good," Hicks said. "I got to sit down with Coach Urban Meyer. He said he likes my [film] and they will definitely be recruiting me."

Hicks played both ways for a 10-2 Solon team this past fall, collecting 41 tackles, three interceptions and catching six touchdown passes.