Bradley’s Fuller, Hicks joining Army, UTC
Two Bradley Central wrestlers are among Chattanooga-area athletes who will be putting pen to paper today, the first day of the early signing period for NCAA sports other than football, soccer and boys’ water polo.
Knox Fuller will be heading for Army, coached by former Soddy-Daisy standout Kevin Ward, and T.J. Hicks will be signing with the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, coached by former Bradley standout Heath Eslinger.
Already a three-time state champion with a 128-4 record, Fuller will be in his fourth weight class this season, 145 pounds.
“Knox is sometimes overlooked and underrated. He’s quiet and unassuming; he takes care of business and gets off the mat,” Bradley coach Ben Smith said.
While Fuller is looking forward to joining Ward and the West Point team, he’s no more excited than Smith.
“I’m pleased that he’s signing with a Division I program with high academic levels, and I think he can get right in there and compete right out of the door,” the Bears coach said. “Knox’s best days are ahead of him, and I’m looking forward to seeing how he handles a program where he isn’t the big fish.
“He also always adapted. He came in here to a competitive wrestling room as a freshman and rolled to a state title. He works hard — takes the initiative.”
Fuller also was recruited by UTC and Virginia, “but when he went to West Point, the recruiting was over,” Smith added.
Hicks spent his freshman season behind Ryan McElhaney, another of Bradley’s multiyear state champions, but he has been unstoppable since, compiling a 101-1 record plus top national-tournament finishes. He’ll be at 113 pounds this year.
“Every college coach that talked to him said, ‘It’s your senior year. Go where you need to go or want to go. We’ll get you where you need to go,’” Smith said.
He thinks the Mocs are getting a wrestler similar to Chris Debien, the four-time state champ from Cleveland High who also joined UTC.
“He’s in a weight class that’s hard to fill, but he may show up and compete at 125 right out of the gate,” Smith said. “I see two years at least at 125 for him. A lot of coaches were recruiting him for his toughness factor, and I think Heath knows exactly what he’s getting. If T.J. buys in and keeps his grades up, he’ll be special.”