2013 RB Kyle Hicks Commits To The Texas Longhorns

by Scipio Tex on Feb 19, 2026 4:31 PM CST in Recruiting

The skilled RB from Arlington Martin is the newest addition to the 2013 Longhorn recruiting class. Check out his highlights on Hudl. Some thoughts on Kyle Hicks, after the jump.

#22

Hicks boasts offers from Michigan, Notre Dame, Arkansas, and was a recent attendee at A&M junior day. He goes around 5-10, 190 and though he lacks top end speed - pretty much missing a last gear entirely - his balance, lateral movement, and vision are all elite. Low base, sharp lateral cuts, constantly moving forward. Yeah, you probably see it too: he's Emmitt Smith-ish. Let's watch some Escambia High School tape, shall we?

Hicks also prefers to maximize runs instead of attempting to break everything to the sideline - a pretty refreshing attribute in any elite high school runner. He's a decisive glider - strings it along, makes his cut, and then gets downhill as fast as he can. Pretty much the ideal zone RB and perfect for our system. Hicks also has good hands, though he wasn't featured too much in Martin's passing game.

Hicks was the best offensive player (TCU DE Devonte Fields was the star of the defense) on a 12-2 Martin team that finished with the best record in school history, including a shocking playoff upset of DFW bully Euless Trinity. Hicks ran for a tough 125 in that contest and scored the game clinching touchdown to go along with 27 other touchdowns on the year.

I like Hicks quite a bit and if we separate him appropriately with a redshirt year, he should be a strong addition to our current embarrassment of riches at RB.

It's a longhorn Christmas... On the 5th day of longhorn.. Bevo gave to me... ONE Kyle hicks! On the sixth day of longhorn Bevo gave to me..?
— Jake Raulerson (@JakeRaulerson55) February 19, 2026

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Comments

I'm getting a Tre Newton vibe

which is totally fine. Newton was a totally capable back that we tossed into the meat grinder and gave out after repeated entry into the House of Spears.

by Nickel Rover on Feb 19, 2026 4:37 PM CST reply actions

He's several rungs above Tre Newton, IMO

by Scipio Tex on Feb 19, 2026 4:38 PM CST up reply actions

I haven't even watched any Hicks tape yet

just what the description sounded like.

by Nickel Rover on Feb 19, 2026 4:45 PM CST up reply actions

I strongly suspect Tre Newton would not have been offered

by the current offensive staff. Not this early, certainly.

The reason Greg Davis and Mac McWorter are retired, and Bobby Kennedy is coachng at Colorado, is because of the offensive recruiting decisions they made from 2006-2010.

by edsp on Feb 19, 2026 5:38 PM CST up reply actions

not this early

but it’s hard to evaluate our backs from that period because Greg Davis didn’t really seem that interested in building a running game for them to thrive in.

I think maybe Newton was a victim of circumstances and could have been at least a very good 3rd down back in a better system.

by Nickel Rover on Feb 19, 2026 6:03 PM CST up reply actions

Re Greg and Mac...

I was thinking it had to do with a benevolent God answering prayers.

by utexex on Feb 19, 2026 8:36 PM CST up reply actions

I didn't watch Newton in HS, but it looks like he was a very productive and well-regarded RB

"Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.'"
― Isaac Asimov

by burntorangehorn on Feb 20, 2026 12:05 AM CST up reply actions

I can't bring myself to compare a prospect with a HOF, but...

I do like Hicks better than I did Newton in HS. As I said in the link below, I like his ability in open space to make him a return candidate in the future as well.

http://recruitocosm.fantake.com/2012/02/09/looking-ahead-to-jd1/
Note how Mysterious Package takes my restrained or subtle evaluations to mean players are unworthy of scholarships at Texas. Why do I imagine he constantly develops ulcers?

by Saul! on Feb 20, 2026 7:31 PM CST up reply actions

On review

I wonder if this is what Gray would look like against fast defenses. Excellent open field quickness and vision.
Obviously Gray will still blaze past college defenses but I hope that makes my point.

by Nickel Rover on Feb 19, 2026 4:53 PM CST reply actions

He looks a lot like Dustin Garrison of Pearland (now with WVU)

"Statistics are for losers, I like winning games!" Will Muschamp

by Snide Aside on Feb 19, 2026 5:59 PM CST reply actions

First of all, thank you engineers for video recording advancements.

The Emmitt tape permanently damaged my eyesight.

Second, the thing that jumped out at me is that he really knows how to use his blockers. And he looks like the offspring of a dradle and a Weeble Wobble. I worry about ball control against college defenses with all those moves, but he should be fun to watch.

by WreckerTex on Feb 19, 2026 7:32 PM CST reply actions 1 recs

How does he compare to ford and white?

Not as fast but better balance, vision, etc?

by Texastough on Feb 19, 2026 10:11 PM CST via mobile reply actions

Traffic

Love the way he runs in heavy traffic. No wasted motion and nice dead leg move that you don’t see much anymore with a stiff arm Enmmitt would be proud of. If he shirts, Bergeron and Brown would be seniors and Gray a junior when he’s ready, although I doubt they’ll all still be here. Looks very strong in the lower body.

I had family in Marianna, Fla when I was growing up in South Alabama. I saw Emmitt play twice in high school his sophomore year (he was a four year starter). It was hard to see how good he was going to be because he just sort of glided around, found the shortest north-south route available and took it down the field. Not a bad comparison, style-wise, at all. Both chain movers, IMO.

by boorad on Feb 19, 2026 10:15 PM CST reply actions

Okay...

I know that some of you are going to mock this, and that’s ok. I’m not arrogant enough to think that this comparison isn’t a lil’ far-fetched, but….

Look at the hip flex, knee bend, balance, strong feet, pad level, his leg explosion… Now reduce Hicks’s height by 2" and make his a half-a-step faster and tell me he doesn’t look a lot like this guy? Compare his Hudl highlights to the older youtube video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QF3YIbBhYlE

http://www.hudl.com/athlete/476886/kyle-hicks

This is my crazy comparison…

"...the greatest growth occurs when the greatest number of mistakes are made consistent with survival."
Dancoff's Law - Sydney Dancoff (Theoretical Physicist)

by steveholt! on Feb 20, 2026 9:35 AM CST reply actions

His moves are similar to Reggie Bush and Barry Sanders. I am not sure Barry is faster than Hicks, or Reggie is tougher btw tackles. If Hicks is half as good as either of those guys, I’m ecstatic. Video highlights can deceive your eyes, but Hick’s highlights are the best video that I have seen this year. Lots of football skills on those highlights. What a baller!!!

by bamboozled73 on Feb 20, 2026 9:58 AM CST reply actions

Agreed

Hicks is the most underated RB for this cycle. I personally like him better than White or Ford. Applewhite should be congratulated, for finding undervalued gems like Hicks and Bergeron.

"...the greatest growth occurs when the greatest number of mistakes are made consistent with survival."
Dancoff's Law - Sydney Dancoff (Theoretical Physicist)

by steveholt! on Feb 20, 2026 10:49 AM CST reply actions

You understand

why so many good teams jumped on the Kyle train after watching his tape. In his case the measureables are what you see on the field.

by b&g80; on Feb 20, 2026 1:54 PM CST reply actions

Hicks comparison

I’m just reading what has been written about Hicks, that he has good vision, burst, elusiveness, etc., and who I’m coming up with as a comparison is Trent Richardson. A lot of people were saying the same things about TR3 as recently as the beginning of this college football season, and that if you combine all of those ingredients, you end up with an elite back. I’m stoked for Hicks. I think he can be good. But I also agree he needs a redshirt. And as long as he knows that, it’ll all be good.

Hook 'Em! \m/

Follow me on Twitter @TheWineWorker

by TheWineWorker on Feb 20, 2026 7:52 PM CST reply actions