Hicks commits to the University of Georgia
RCHS Sports, Sports November 14, 2019
Braxton Lee Hicks, a senior at Rabun County High, is headed to play football for Coach Kirby Smart at the University of Georgia in Athens.
He made the announcement Sunday via Twitter saying: “After talking to Coach Smart, it’s a done deal! I’m 100% committed to the University of Georgia.”
Rabun County High wideout Braxton Lee Hicks, right, is pictured with University of Georgia head coach Kirby Smart. Kicks has committed to join the Bulldogs as a preferred walk-on next season.
Hicks will join the Bulldogs as a preferred walk-on for next season, earning him a great shot at making the main squad for the 2020 season.
The 6-foot-2, 195-pound wideout was extended the offer more than two weeks ago after “a great conversation” with Georgia Associate Head Coach and Offensive Line Coach Sam Pittman.
“I’m very excited to say that I have been offered a (preferred walk-on position) to the University of Georgia,” Hicks tweeted Oct. 25.
The senior will bring a winning mindset to Athens. He and the Wildcats have won region titles all four years of his high-school career.
Through 10 games this season, Hicks has 879 yards and nine touchdowns on 46 receptions as the main target of sophomore quarterback Gunner Stockton, who himself is already receiving the interest of college programs as the top-ranked national quarterback of the 2022 class.
Hicks has put up impressive numbers during his four years with the varsity squad.
With at least one game still to play this season, Hicks has amassed 3,153 yards on 164 catches and 43 touchdowns in 49 games.
Support quickly poured in online once Hicks announced his decision.
Matt Shirley, Hicks’ wide receiver coach and the team’s special teams coach, tweeted “Haven’t been around many with a work ethic like (Hicks)! Super proud of him and the young man he is! The future is bright for you! Can’t wait to see you in Athens!”
Hicks will have a chance this Friday to increase his career numbers as Rabun County heads into the first round of the Class AA state playoffs.
The Wildcats (10-0), the No. 1 seed from Region 8-AA, will host BEST Academy, the No. 4 seed from Region 6-AA, BEST Academy.
The game is set to kickoff at 7:30 p.m. in Tiger.
PLAYOFF PREVIEW: Rabun to host BEST
RCHS Sports, Sports November 14, 2019
The Rabun County High football team is used to state playoff football.
In each of the last four seasons, the Wildcats have at least reached the state quarterfinals, including losing the championship game in 2017.
Rabun County has lost just six games in the past four seasons combined and haven’t lost a region game in longer than that.
Rabun County sophomore quarterback Gunner Stockton
The offense has put up nearly 44 points per game this season and is led by nationally top-ranked quarterback, sophomore Gunner Stockton.
The 6-foot-1, 196-pounder has offers from more than a dozen Division-I programs. He’s got 2,650 yards and 37 touchdowns in the air this season. On the ground, Stockton has 827 yards and 16 scores as the leading rusher on the team.
On the outside, the Wildcats are led by senior receiver Braxton Lee Hicks, who just recently committed to the University of Georgia.
Rabun County senior wideout Braxton Lee Hicks
Hicks has 879 yards and nine touchdowns on 46 catches in 10 games this season.
He’s joined in the receiving corps by senior Sam Adams (493 yards, 12 touchdowns), junior Sutton Jones (437 yards, six touchdowns), and sophomores Hogan Woodard (321 yards, two touchdowns) and Tate Ramey (281 yards, five touchdowns).
On defense, the Wildcats are led by seniors A.J. Wheeler (74 total tackles, two interceptions), Garrett Bragg (71 tackles), Trent Miller (67 tackles), and Phillip Roberson (62 tackles, 6.5 sacks), and juniors Hoff Windham (73 tackles, four sacks) and Brody Jarrard (57 tackles, two interceptions.)
Coming into Tiger on Friday night is the Business Engineering Science and Technology (BEST) Academy, the No. 4 seed from Region 8-AA.
Rabun County Head Coach Jaybo Shaw
The Eagles (4-6, 4-3) come in with an offense that’s capable of putting up numbers. They’ve scored 26 or more points in six games this season, including exploding for 58 points two weeks ago against McNair.
BEST is led by junior quarterback Da’von Hixson, who has 846 yards and seven touchdowns this season on 73-for-166 passing. The 5-foot-10, 170-pound Hixson is also a threat to run the ball, amassing four touchdowns and 83 yards on 86 carries in 2019.
The team’s leading running back is sophomore Nique Bell, who has 518 yards on 72 carries with three touchdowns this season. He’s helped by sophomore Khaliq Brock (390 yards, five touchdowns) and senior Giovanni Morgan (259 yards, four touchdowns) in the running back corps.
The Eagles’ leading receiver is senior Qwan’tez London stiggers, who has pulled in 282 yards and three touchdowns on 16 catches this season.
As the numbers indicate, BEST is a run-first team, which should suite a Rabun County defense that is holding opponents to less than 12 points per game in 2019.
The Wildcats and Eagles are set to tee it up beginning at 7:30 p.m., Friday, Nov. 15, in Tiger in the first round of the Class AA state playoffs.
For Rabun’s season results and team statistics, click here.