Texas OL sets sights on playoffs

Rowlett, Texas offensive lineman Josh Hickman is garnering the attention of several schools after earning team MVP honors as a junior.

“I am being recruited by Texas Tech, TCU, Arkansas, Iowa and Texas A&M,” the 6-foot-3, 270-pound Hickman said. “I don’t have any scholarship offers yet, just a lot of mail.”

Hickman is planning on attending summer camps at a few of the schools that are recruiting him.

“I’m going to go to Texas Tech, TCU, Byalor, SMU and probably Texas,” he said. “Those are the ones I’m thinking about right now.”

Hickman has a few factors in mind when looking for a college.

“I will look at the athletics tradition the school has,” he said. “I also want to get a good education. And where the school is located is a factor, too.”

While playing offensive guard does not rack up too many offensive statistics, Hickman’s team does track blocking numbers for its offensive linemen. During the 2003 season, he recorded 30 pancake blocks and did not allow any quarterback sacks. He also was cornerstone along the line for a ground attack that averaged five yards per carry. Those numbers earned him offensive MVP honors for his high school team.

Hickman is looking forward to his senior season.

“Hopefully we can get into the playoffs,” he said. “That is our top goal as a team. We want to get into the playoffs. That is what it is all about.”