Back from ‘scary’ concussion, UAlbany’s Julian Hicks thrived against Stony Brook

“When I was in the hospital bed, I said, can I play next week?” Hicks recalled Wednesday. “Just as a result of I’m a competitor, what did I inform them. But they mentioned, no, not an opportunity. I used to be a bit disenchanted about that, simply because I needed to return and assist my workforce.”

After lacking two video games, Hicks definitely helped the Great Danes in his comeback final week. He caught three landing passes in a 59-14 loss over Stony Brook. UAlbany (2-6 total, 1-4 Colonial Athletic Association) will attempt to make it two wins in a row Saturday at Nineteenth-ranked Elon (6-3, 4-2).

“My team helped put me in position and my coaches helped put me in position, so it was a good feeling,” mentioned Hicks, an Akron switch. “I went into (last) week just going a little bit harder, just to tighten things up and make sure I was prepared for the game.”

He mentioned he watched the replay of the final sport against Monmouth. He was hit up the center by Monmouth cornerback Jaylen Dotson on an incompletion on the Hawks 6 as time expired within the 38-31 loss.

The officers threw a penalty flag however took it again after a video evaluate. Meanwhile, Hicks stayed on the sphere for a number of minutes earlier than getting up and getting right into a wheelchair. He mentioned he was “probably unconscious for about a minute.”

“I felt like I was vulnerable,” Hicks mentioned of the play. “I did not suppose it was concentrating on, however I assumed I used to be susceptible, so I undoubtedly suppose the decision ought to have been made. I really feel like whenever you go to away video games, it is less than you.”

Hicks mentioned he had a light concussion in highschool, however this one was extra extreme.

“It was definitely kind of scary at first because I’ve never been hit like that before, so I really didn’t know what to do,” he mentioned.

Hicks rested for a number of days whereas in concussion protocols, after which returned to the workforce. He practiced final week carrying a purple non-contact jersey. UAlbany coach Greg Gattuso mentioned Hicks was medically cleared the day earlier than the Stony Brook sport.

“I was very happy for him,” Gattuso mentioned. “It simply harm lots after we misplaced him. He’s such an enormous menace on the market and to see him come again, he actually labored his tail off to return again and he confirmed no consequence from that.”

UAlbany CB, Elon QB had been a part of the Wolfpack

On Saturday, UAlbany will face Elon redshirt senior quarterback Matthew McKay, who performed at North Carolina State in 2018 and 2019. McKay began 5 video games for the Wolfpack.

Great Danes cornerback Isaac Duffy is aware of McKay higher than any Great Dane. That’s as a result of Duffy and McKay had been NC State teammates. Duffy performed for the Wolfpack in 2019 and 2020 earlier than transferring to UAlbany.

When Duffy was on NC State’s scouting protection, he labored out against McKay.

“He’s a good guy, obviously a great quarterback,” Duffy mentioned. “He was fun to play with, cool demeanor. He was my friend when we were at NC State, so it will be fun to compete against him again.”

UAlbany staying nearer to Elon this time

UAlbany will keep in Greensboro, NC, about 20 miles from Elon. That’s nearer than the Great Danes’ final journey to Elon in 2017.

Five years in the past, Great Danes discovered refuge in Virginia, throughout the state line, due to New York’s opposition to North Carolina’s “bathroom bill” that required transgender folks to make use of public loos that corresponded to their beginning gender . It has since been abolished.

“There’s nowhere near Elon, so you’re always a little bit away,” Gattuso mentioned. “But we’re not going to be two hours away, it doesn’t matter what (in 2017).

UAlbany misplaced that sport 6-0.