Recruit Blake Hickey ready to add power to Kansas State's offensive line

Blake Hickey could have turned his signing-day ceremony into one of those suspenseful events you see on TV, complete with reporters and hats to help illustrate his college choice.

But that’s not what the three-star offensive lineman from Godley, Texas wants. Instead, he plans to sign a letter of intent with Kansas State on Wednesday at a quiet gathering inside his school’s library.

Hickey, a 6-foot-4, 285-pound blocker, received 18 scholarship offer from schools ranging from California to Northwestern, Purdue, Kansas and Syracuse, but he stayed true to K-State. When he orally committed in July, he made a promise to join the Wildcats and play for coach Bill Snyder next season. No amount of sales pitches from other schools could sway him to look elsewhere.

“Six schools were still calling and trying to get me on a visit this past weekend,” Hickey said in a phone interview. “I just turned them down. As soon as I stepped on campus I knew Kansas State was the place for me.”

Hickey is a rarity in K-State’s 2016 recruiting class. He had options to play for other prominent schools, but stood by his commitment the entire way. The Wildcats lost four previously committed players – Wichita East defensive end Xavier Kelly (Clemson), St. Louis running back Tre Bryant (Nebraska), Dodge City Community College offensive lineman Chris Gaynor (TCU) and Belton, Texas offensive lineman Zach Shackelford (Texas) – and many of their incoming recruits weren’t sought-after prospects.

K-State’s class is expected to contain 19 players, including one four-star recruit and eight three-star players. Rivals rates it 72nd nationally and ninth in the Big 12.

So what made the decision so simple for Hickey?

“The biggest part is playing in the Big 12 and being able to compete at the highest level,” Hickey said. “Both my grandpas also love to watch me play, but they don’t like flying. So they are going to have to drive to all my games. At Kansas State, I will have games at Baylor and TCU that aren’t much of a drive and Oklahoma and Kansas are close. It will be really convenient.”

The opportunity to play immediately is also a plus.

K-State lost four starters off its offensive line this season, leaving every position other than center available for the taking. Hickey played guard and tackle last season at Godley High, helping the school qualify for the state playoffs for the first time at its current size classification. He hopes to help the Wildcats in similar ways next season, likely at guard.

After watching many of their games, he thinks he is a perfect fit in Snyder’s offense.

“My strength is pulling,” Hickey said. “We ran power at our high school, so that is my biggest strengthy. My mentality on the line is just being physical and trying to crush the dude’s will across from me.”

When he first met with K-State offensive line coach Charlie Dickey, Hickey saw himself as a redshirt candidate. And he still may be. But he also added 15 pounds in the last two months, making him a candidate to compete for playing time immediately.

“The first time I talked to coach Dickey about playing time I weighed 270,” Hickey said. “I felt a lot better about our conversation last week when I was up to 285. My mentality is to go in there and give it everything I’ve got. If I have it in me to play as a true freshman, that would be awesome. If not, I am going to trust in the coaches and keep working.”

First comes signing day. His ceremony won’t have many frills.

“There are going to be a lot of emotions running through me,” Hickey said. “It will be overwhelming for sure, because this has been my dream since I was a little kid. I will probably soak in that feeling for a few days and then get to work.”

This story was originally published February 2, 2016 at 1:35 PM with the headline "Recruit Blake Hickey ready to add power to Kansas State's offensive line."