Career Highlights
- 2009 Second-Team All-Big 12 (Associated Press, Kansas City Star)
- Three-Time Honorable-Mention All-Big 12 (Coaches, 2007, 2008, 2009)
- 2009 Nebraska Offensive Captain
- 2009 Second-Team Academic-All Big 12
- 2009 Big 12 Commissioner's Fall Academic Honor Roll
- 2009 Big 12 Commissioner's Spring Academic Honor Roll
2009 (Senior)
Jacob Hickman was a key figure on the Nebraska offensive line for four seasons, including three years as a starter. Hickman battled through injury and illness to start all 14 games at center in 2009, extending his streak of consecutive starts to 36. Hickman was regarded as one of the top centers in the Big 12 throughout his career, earning second-team all-league honors as a senior and honorable-mention accolades the previous two seasons.
Hickman was one of three offensive linemen to start all 14 games in 2009, and he provided leadership as the only senior starter on the NU offense. The play of Hickman helped junior I-back Roy Helu Jr. post a 1,000-yard rushing season, and also helped NU rank in the top 40 nationally in sacks allowed. In addition to his conference honors, Hickman was voted by his teammates as the team's offensive captain.
2008 (Junior)
After switching from guard during spring ball, Hickman was one of only two linemen to start every game last fall. Hickman was the anchor for the Cornhuskers’ 2008 offensive line that powered the unit to top-20 national rankings in scoring, rushing and total offense. The Huskers finished the year averaging 450.8 yards per game to rank 12th nationally and topped 30 points in 10 of 13 games.
The offensive line made steady progress throughout the year, helping make Nebraska one of the Big 12’s top rushing teams. Nebraska finished third in the league in rushing in conference games and averaged better than 210 yards per game over the final half of the regular season. Nebraska rushed for at least 160 yards in each of the final six games of the regular season, including 340 yards at Kansas State, the most by Nebraska in a Big 12 game in six seasons.
Hickman and his line mates also allowed senior quarterback Joe Ganz to set season school records for passing yards and total offense. The continuity Hickman provided for Ganz helped the signal caller complete better than 67 percent of his passes and post five 300-yard passing days. Both of those marks were Nebraska season records.
2007 (Sophomore)
After missing spring ball because of a knee injury, Hickman played in all 12 games in 2007, including starts in the final nine games at left guard. He was a key cog in a line that helped Nebraska set single-game and season passing records, averaging better than 323 passing yards per game to finish seventh nationally. Despite throwing a school-record 481 passes, the line surrendered only 18 sacks.
The Huskers also finished ninth nationally in total offense by averaging 468.2 yards per game. The line paved the way for I-back Marlon Lucky to record a 1,000-yard rushing season, along with more than 1,700 all-purpose yards.
2006 (Freshman)
Hickman played in five games, appearing in non-conference wins over Louisiana Tech, Nicholls State and Troy. He saw extensive action at Oklahoma State, helping Nebraska roll up 452 yards of offense. That performance earned Hickman the start against Missouri. Hickman also served on NU’s PAT and field goal units. Hickman missed the Cotton Bowl after suffering a knee injury in December.
Against Missouri, Hickman became just the second true freshman offensive lineman to start a game for Nebraska since 1972, joining teammate Matt Slauson who started the final three games at offensive tackle as a true frosh in 2005. Hickman also became just the seventh Husker true freshman lineman to letter since 1972.
Before Nebraska (Centennial HS)
Hickman was a two-way standout for Coach Brian Nixon at Centennial High School in Bakersfield, playing defensive tackle and offensive line. Hickman earned second-team CalHi Sports all-state honors as a senior in 2004, and was a first-team all-state underclassman selection as a junior, when he also earned all-area and all-league honors. Hickman had 56 tackles and 13 sacks as a junior in helping Centennial to a 10-3 record.
Hickman was ranked among the top 50 prospects in California by Rivals.com. He only visited Nebraska, but also received offers from Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, Washington and UCLA.
Personal
Hickman is the son of Bill Hickman and Nancy Smith, and was born on Aug. 14, 1986. He is a construction management major and has volunteered with Nebraska’s regular hospital visits, as well as at Eastmont Towers.
Hickman's Career Statistics
Games Played - 44 (5 in 2006, 12 in 2007, 13 in 2008, 14 in 2009)
Games Started - 37 (1 in 2006, 9 in 2007, 13 in 2008, 14 in 2009)