'I've been waiting my turn' Texas A&M DL DJ Hicks is ready to take on his leadership role

[ASFN Admin]

Texas A&M's 2025 spring season is off and running, finishing its ninth practice on Tuesday afternoon, leading to Wednesday's press conference led by head coach Mike Elko and junior defensive tackle DJ Hicks, who, by all accounts, enters the 2025 season with high expectations after Nic Scourton, Shemar Stewart, and Shemar Turner entered the 2025 NFL Draft.

Outside of a brief controversial moment concerning Hicks and the Aggie defensive line's explicit motto used this spring, the Katy, Texas native provided several key updates, both personal and cohesive, as the new-look defensive line will be led by the former five-star prospect who has yet to live up to his High School pedigree.

At defensive tackle, especially in the SEC, size and strength are crucial to getting past interior offensive linemen at a consistent rate. Hicks has taken the hint that his 295-pound playing weight last season was not getting it done, as he has gained 15 pounds, mostly muscle, after putting the work in with S&C coach Tommy Moffitt.

Combined with senior defensive lineman Albert Regis, Hicks will take on a leadership role for the first in his Aggie career, and so far, he sounds like he's taken the role seriously.

Here is everything DJ Hicks had to say during Wednesday's press conference.

DJ Hicks on the progress he's seen from the defensive line this spring​

"I see a lot of progress from us. We had four really good guys to look after and model after. Those guys showed us how to be the best D-line we can be from their work ethic and how they went through their daily business."

Hicks is confident in the D-line to take the next step in 2025​

"We're going to make a big step up this year."

Hicks is ready to take on his new leadership role​

"Ever since I got here, I've been waiting my turn. … The guys I've been behind have made me better -- better as a leader and as a player."

"I've got to step up in roles they need me to step up in."

Hicks on the struggle with "waiting his turn" amid being the No. 1-ranked DL in the 2023 recruiting class​

"To be 100 percent honest, it's difficult. It's hard coming in as a highly-regarded recruit, thinking you're going to play a lot and then having to wait your turn. It taught me a lot."

"It taught me who I am and how much I can accomplish while waiting behind so many great players."

Hicks on gaining healthy weight this offseason​

"Last spring, I was 290. I felt I was a little bit too small. Gaining a little bit of weight, it's helping me hold the point a little bit better and take on double teams a little bit better."

Hicks trusts Mike Elko's defensive scheme to help the pass rushers produce​

"We've got a lot of top rushers… Following Coach Elko's scheme, I feel like we're still going to get to the quarterback a lot."

Hicks praises Iowa State transfer DL Tyler Onyedim​

"He is going to be electric. … You are going to see someone really special in him."

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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Everything Texas A&M DL DJ Hicks said during Wednesday's presser

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