Gophers add New York DL Jaylin Hicks to 2024 class

–> Three-star New Rochelle, N.Y. DL Jaylin Hicks committed to the Gophers Sunday becoming the 17th player overall to join the University of Minnesota’s 2024 recruiting class.

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Once top New York cornerback Samuel Madu got the ball rolling on Sunday, three more commitments shortly followed. Fellow New York standout defensive lineman Jaylin Hicks was second on the list, committing only a few hours later on Sunday. Listed at 6-foot-3, 250 pounds Hicks is rated as the No. 679 recruit in the country according to 247sports. He holds other top offers from Penn State, Boston College and Syracuse, but is now the 4th-highest-ranked recruit committed to Minnesota.

I am 100% percent committed to the University of Minnesota. #RTB Gopher nation!!! @ionafootball @Joespags12 @CoachNJ_Monroe @Coach_DeBo46 @UofMGophers @MinnesotaRivals @GopherFootball pic.twitter.com/XpHfe73t2u

— Jaylin Hicks; Aka:J2 (@hicks_jaylin) June 11, 2023

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Who is Jaylin Hicks?:

Jaylin Hicks is a senior student-athlete at Roman Catholic all-male, Iona Preparatory School in New Rochelle, N.Y. New Rochelle is one of the bigger suburbs of NYC, in the Westchester district. He broke onto the recruiting scene following his junior season, picking up seven different DI offers, highlighted by Penn State, Syracuse and Boston College. Minnesota was Hick’s only one outside of the Northeast. After taking his first official visit to Minnesota over the weekend he liked Dinkytown so much that he committed.

• Scouting Report:

At 6-foot-4, 250 pounds, Hicks is currently a bit of a DE/DT tweener along the defensive line. He played mostly on the outside as a junior, but likely projects more along the interior at the next level. His physical profile reminds me a bit of current Gophers’ DT Deven Eastern who also played more defensive end at the high school level. Like most players his age, he relied a lot on his strength and athleticism at the high school level rather than technique, but that is exactly what makes him a fun long-term prospect for new DL coach Winston DeLattiboudere to develop.

**High School Football Hudl Highlights: 

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Instant Reaction:

Hicks joins Samuel Madu as the Gophers’ second commitment from the New York City area. That proves how much Coach Fleck has improved the image of the Minnesota program on a national scale. Both players are top-10 recruits in the state and had plenty of offers nationally, so to be able to go into an area like NYC and get two top talents is an impressive feat. Hicks now joins a very fun defensive line class with Mo Saine, Jide Abasiri and Riley Sunram for Winston DeLattiboudere in his first offseason recruiting.

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