Jamal Hicks returns to Colorado State to chase pro football dream after COVID delay
A tweet seen by the right person put the wheels in motion for Jamal Hicks to restart his football dream.
Hicks finished his Colorado State football career in 2019, which happened to be the very worst time to try and make it as a pro.
His pro day in spring 2020 was a sterile, isolated affair due to COVID-19 shutting the world down. There were no minicamps or tryouts to try and land on an NFL team.
Hicks was a first-team All-Mountain West safety as a senior with more than 100 tackles. He could have had a pro chance in better circumstances.
Instead, he was forced into a more typical job, and he’s spent the time since working for grocery chain Kroger.
But now there’s been a surge in pro football opportunities with the XFL and USFL returning in new forms, plus the continued presence of the CFL and indoor football.
So in late February, Hicks fired a hopeful flare into the Twitterverse.
“Lol somebody tell @CoachJayNorvell and @CSUFootball let ya boy come do Pro day.”
Lol somebody tell @CoachJayNorvell and @CSUFootball let ya boy come do Pro day fr. I herd the Usfl and XfL will be in attendance. It was hard coming out during covid.
— GARDENA (@Jamalhicks7) February 21, 2023
It worked. Kim Norvell, Jay’s wife, responded and told Hicks she would let the head coach know. Hicks played under Mike Bobo as a Ram, but the Norvells helped open the door for Hicks to restart the pursuit of his pro dream.
He was one of 12 former CSU football players to take part in pro day Friday, with several NFL scouts in attendance and video recordings to send to scouts of secondary pro leagues.
“I’m just thankful for the opportunity. They didn’t have to let me do this,” Hicks said. “I believe I have the talent to play next level, so why not come back? I’m going to be able to work for the rest of my life.”
The 25-year-old joked he was the old man reliving his glory days in CSU’s Indoor Practice Facility, but he’s serious about this opportunity.
From his time as a Ram: Football a ticket out of trouble for CSU's Hicks, his daughter
He started working out a month ago to get back to football shape.
Hicks, who had 268 career tackles as a Ram, didn’t realize how important playing the game was to him until he couldn’t anymore.
“It’s been a long journey,” Hicks said. “Three years with no ball? Wooo, there’s nothing like football. I didn’t know how much I loved football until I didn’t have it no more."
Hicks said he will participate in an XFL combine soon and CFL workouts shortly after that.
“I’m going to play ball somewhere,” Hicks said.
CSU football pro day participants
There were 12 former Rams working out in front of scouts Friday. They were:
Jamal Hicks, defensive back
Gray Davis, offensive line
Dante Bivens, offensive line
Dontae Keys, offensive line
Cam’Ron Carter, linebacker
Dequan Jackson, linebacker
Brandon Hickerson-Rooks, linebacker
CJ Onyechi, defensive line
Greg Laday, defensive back
Marshaun Cameron, defensive back
Michael Boyle, kicker
Jacob Raab, long snapper
Follow sports reporter Kevin Lytle on Twitter and Instagram @Kevin_Lytle.
This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Jamal Hicks returns to Colorado State to chase pro football dream
