Nine picks before the NFL draft concluded, Elijah Hicks was still waiting for a miracle. The California safety had played so well in 2021 for his team, and then a brutally-timed injury ruined his chance to shine in the East-West Shrine Game and the Cal pro day. Not to mention a possible invitation to the scouting combine. So many talented prospects saw their draft dreams ruined by such bad luck. Then, at the 11th hour, his phone rang. The Chicago Bears asked him if he was ready to join them.
Hicks was beyond thrilled. The excitement and relief were palpable during a video expressing his gratitude to the team for picking him. He was so pumped up that he literally got down and did clapping push-ups. It was quite a spectacle. Yet people might be shocked to hear how wild this story gets. According to him, before the draft, his girlfriend went out and bought hats for every single NFL team. Wherever he ended up, he wanted to be prepared.
This is where it gets good.
Hicks had met with the Bears leading up to the draft and felt it had gone well. By a strange coincidence, the hat he'd bought for them was the one sitting directly in front of the TV as he watched the broadcast. Sure enough, he was able to grab it when the call finally came. It's almost like it was destiny.One thing is certain. Elijah Hicks is easy to cheer for. The guy endured a lot to get where he is now. He grew up without much financial stability, fought his way into college, and became an incredible representative of the school not just on the field but also in his charity work. When the Bears talk about wanting to add guys with passion and character, this is what they mean. One can only hope he gets an opportunity to show what he can do.
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