La Mirada football takes a hit as Elijah Hicks heads to UC Berkeley

Photos | William Odis Martin

LA MIRADA – The La Mirada Matadores football team lost many key pieces from last year’s dominating squad including head coach Mike Moschetti and quarterback Tristan Meyers, but none will be missed more than the offensive and defensive force known as Elijah Hicks.

Hicks made the decision to attend Cal this last spring immediately following the conclusion of the season as an early transfer.

The four-star recruit shocked many when he decommitted from Notre Dame to attend Cal in hopes he could be an instant starter and impact player in January.

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Ever since he arrived in Berkeley, Hicks has been making an instant impact and transitioning well to his new teammates.

Hicks is projected to be a freshman standout in the PAC-12. He has been showing his explosive talent with the Golden Bears in scrimmages all preseason.

Not only is Hicks holding it down on the field, he is impressing coaches and scouts most with his scholastic prowess and competitive nature. After his first semester at the prestigious university, he finished with a 3.33 GPA.

It is extremely rare to see a shutdown cornerback with his size and speed, but what makes Hicks a phenom is his IQ. At La Mirada he showcased his ball hawking ability as a defensive back, high pointing the football as a wide-receiver, and his vision as kick returner.

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It would not be surprising to see the Golden Bears utilize Hick’s unique skill set on special teams sometime this year. In fact, it would be a shame if they don’t.

While watching Hicks fly around the field on offense, defense, and on special teams last year, it was hard to not compare him to Michigan Wolverine legend Charles Woodson.

Woodson led the Wolverines to a National Championship in route to claiming the highest honor in college football, the Heisman Trophy back in 1997. Woodson is still the only defensive back to be honored with the award and is considered by most a first ballot Hall of Famer.

By William Odis Martin | Follow him on Twitter here