2026 games, tackles for loss per game. W and L: the team’s results.
4 stories in the last 30 days, from 5 outlets.
C.J. Hicks has 96-yard fumble return to spark South Florida past Kent State 29-2
FOX Sports +1 Oct 17
C.J. Hicks
Turns pressure into sacks — pressures become finishes. Played for two head coaches at two programs in five seasons: Ryan Day and Brian Hartline. A game that shows it: 7 tackles against Temple — Week 5, 2026.
26 tackles · 5 sacks
Play style
Turns pressure into sacks — when he gets there, he finishes.
Closest statistical matches, adjusted for opponent strength.
from 5 outlets
C.J. Hicks has 96-yard fumble return to spark South Florida past Kent State 29-2
FOX Sports +1 Oct 17 · 2 outlets
FOX Sports +1C.J. Hicks has 96-yard fumble return to spark South Florida past Kent State 29-2Oct 17
CBS SportsSouth Florida shuts down Kent State behind C.J. Hicks' 96-yard TDOct 17
ESPNC.J. Hicks scores 0-yard defensive touchdown vs. Kent StateOct 17from 5 outlets
C.J. Hicks has 96-yard fumble return to spark South Florida past Kent State 29-2
FOX Sports +1 Oct 17 · 2 outlets
FOX Sports +1C.J. Hicks has 96-yard fumble return to spark South Florida past Kent State 29-2Oct 17CBS SportsSouth Florida shuts down Kent State behind C.J. Hicks' 96-yard TDOct 17ESPNC.J. Hicks scores 0-yard defensive touchdown vs. Kent StateOct 17
USF AthleticsFOX Sports +1Each week: his team’s game, the stories about him that week, and the week’s biggest news headline.
Stories we tracked, by school.
South Florida7 stories2026 to nowMost about: performance and stat line, awards and watch lists, in his words.
FOX Sports +1C.J. Hicks has 96-yard fumble return to spark South Florida past Kent State 29-2Oct 17
Yahoo SportsOhio State transfer C.J. Hicks ready to leave his stamp on USFAug 12USF AthleticsUSF Football's C.J. Hicks Says "I'm Here To Be Different"Aug 17CBS SportsSouth Florida shuts down Kent State behind C.J. Hicks' 96-yard TDOct 17ESPNC.J. Hicks scores 0-yard defensive touchdown vs. Kent StateOct 17
Ohio State4 stories2022 to 2025Most about: in his words, recruiting.
Locked OnOhio State's CJ Hicks and Malik Hartford are Expected to redshirtOct 5
247SportsFormer Ohio State DE C.J. Hicks commits to South FloridaJan 5Stories are headlines grouped by what they are about, counted through Nov 4.
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
| Season | Team | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | South Florida | 26 | 18 | 6.0 | 5.0 | 2 |
| 2025 | Ohio State | 6 | 2 | 1.0 | 0.0 | -- |
| 2024 | Ohio State | 22 | 10 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 1 |
| 2023 | Ohio State | 8 | 5 | 1.0 | 0.0 | -- |
| 2022 | Ohio State | 6 | 4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -- |
| Career | 68 | 39 | 10.0 | 7.0 | 3 |
Last game (Wk 9): 4 sacks, 4 tackles for loss, 5 tackles.
Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 6 games
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 19-9vs Florida International | 4 | 3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 1 | |
| Wk 2 | W 28-24@ Army | 5 | 1 | 1.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 5 | L 13-17vs Temple | 7 | 6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 7 tackles |
| Wk 6 | L 24-31@ UTSA | 3 | 3 | 1.0 | 1.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 7 | W 29-2vs Kent State | 2 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 9 | W 30-10vs UAB | 5 | 4 | 4.0 | 4.0 | — | 1 | 4 sacks |
| Total | 26 | 18 | 6.0 | 5.0 | — | 2 |
Oct. 31 · W 30-10 vs UAB, play by play
A defensive touchdown: his turnover was returned for the score. 5 tackles, including 4 sacks, 1 pass broken up, the most sacks in FBS that week.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
Sacked the quarterback for a 13-yard loss on 3rd and 7. Second quarter, down 10-3.
Sacked the quarterback for a 11-yard loss. Second quarter, made it 17-10.
Sacked the quarterback for a 6-yard loss on 3rd and 10. Fourth quarter, made it 27-10.
His defensive touchdowns put 14 points on the board directly. Without them the final is 16-10, not 30-10.
His game this year: disruption in the backfield — 6 tackles for loss, 5 of them sacks, in the 6 games with play by play.
How South Florida’s defense played that day
UAB’s 9 drives: 7 stopped · 2 scored. While the game was within a score they held 2 of 4. His sack came with the game tied.
2 tackles.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
3 tackles, including 1 sack.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
Sacked the quarterback for a 6-yard loss. Third quarter, tied 17-17.
7 tackles.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
5 tackles, including 1 more for loss. He hurried the quarterback once.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
4 tackles, including 1 pass broken up. He hurried the quarterback once.
Each small tick is one of his tackles on the play-by-play. His sacks are drawn as sacks.
No game thread archived for this game yet.
Conference ranks count every player in the conference with a row in that stat, any position. Career ranks count current FBS players, from the games in our log.
Ratings of the games shown run from -21 to +4 points against an average team (SP+ rating of each opponent).
Where his impact shows up on the stat sheet
Sack rate
19%5 sacksTFL rate
23%6 TFLHurry rate
8%2 hurriesPressure-to-sack conversion
71%5 of 7 pressures26 tackles · 6 for loss · 5 sacks.
Splits · Per-game
2026 season · 6 games
Home vs Road
| TKL/g | TFL/g | SACK/g | PD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home4g | 4.5 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.5 |
| Road2g | 4.0 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 |
First half vs Second half
| TKL/g | TFL/g | SACK/g | PD/g | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1-75g | 4.2 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.2 |
| Weeks 8+1g | 5.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 1.0 |
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Brian Hartline
Pass share
42.1%
195 pass / 268 run
Plays / game
57.9
8 games
Team sack rate
7.3%
220 dropbacks · PBP
Scheme: Run-leaning, slow tempo.
Player standing · 2026
More tackles a game than most FBS defensive linemen who play every week.
Recognition
Production · CFB Zeitgeist Score
Former five-star. Now #199 at the position.
2026 is in progress.
A stat line in 30 games over five seasons.
Coaching lineage · 2022–2026
2 coachesPlayed for 2 head coaches at 2 schools: Ryan Day and Brian Hartline.
Next stop · Transfer
Transferred to South Florida
