CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Dec. 6, 2022) - Washington State redshirt-freshman safety Jaden Hicks was named to the Freshman All-America Third Team, College Football News announced Wednesday.
 
Hicks is WSU's second Freshman All-American in as many seasons after punter Nick Haberer earned the honor last season and is the first Cougar defensive player to earn Freshman All-America accolades since safety Jalen Thompson in 2016.
 
Hicks enters the LA Bowl second on the team with 69 tackles, the most among Pac-12 freshmen defenders, along with two tackles-for-loss, one sack, four pass breakups, one interception and one fumble he returned for a touchdown. The Las Vegas native recorded a sack in the season-opening win over Idaho, made three stops in the win at No. 19 Wisconsin and recorded 10 tackles along with an interception in his first career start in the win over Colorado State. Hicks followed with 11 tackles against No. 15 Oregon, 11 more in the win over California, eight against No. 14 Utah and was named Pac-12 Conference Freshman of the Week after making six tackles and returning a fumble 17 yards for a touchdown in the win at Stanford.