With the 83rd overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, the San Diego Chargers took defensive back Craig Mager from Texas State. With the No. 84 overall pick, the Philadelphia Eagles took Texas linebacker Jordan Hicks, who finished his senior campaign with a career-best and team-leading 147 tackles as the Longhorns' starting weakside linebacker.
NFL Draft results 2015: Craig Mager to Chargers, Jordan Hicks taken by Eagles in 3rd round
In back-to-back picks, Craig Mager went to the Chargers and then Jordan Hicks was selected by the Eagles in the third round of the NFL Draft.
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Hicks was recognized as a 2014 second-team All-Big 12 selection by the Associated Press and a second-team All-America selection by the Walter Camp Football Foundation for his efforts last season. Although he played in every game for Texas as a senior, Hicks does have a history of injuries in college. He missed a combined 19 games during the previous two seasons due to a hip injury (2012) and torn Achilles (2013), and also sat out spring practices in 2011 with a fractured foot.
Mager was a second-team All-Sun Belt Conference player in 2014 with three interceptions and 10 passes defensed. He started 46 of the 48 games he played with Texas State and was also an honorable mention All-WAC player in 2012. He’s a lot more complete than other defensive backs at this stage of the draft, and can’t be considered “raw.” That said, he doesn’t seem to have as high a ceiling as others, with average instincts. He does has value as a kick returner.
The 6'1, 236-pound Hicks tested well at the NFL Combine, where he was a top performer among his peers in the vertical jump (38 inches), three-cone drill (6.78 seconds) and 60-yard shuttle (11.34 seconds). Hicks also had an impressive showing at his pro day. Scouts raved about his coverage skills and fluidity during the positional workouts, noting that he likely "helped his draft aspirations quite a bit" with that excellent performance in late March.
Hicks has the ideal height, weight, speed and intelligence to be a linebacker at the next level, but there are some concerns about his football instincts and “ability to play outside the scheme.“ While the durability questions surrounding Hicks are real, his above-average athleticism and tremendous work ethic will likely allow him to stick in the league.
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