Dere Hicks

Started in all 13 games at cornerback … Recorded five tackles in the Rose Bowl against USC … Assisted on a tackle and had two PBUs against Northwestern … Had five tackles - including four solos - and an interception at No. 1 Ohio State … Had three tackles - including a solo - and had a PBU at Minnesota … Notched two solo tackles against Ball State … Recorded five tackles, including three solos, and had a PBU against No. 25 Michigan … Notched four solo tackles at Iowa … Had six tackles - including three solos - against No. 5 Wisconsin … For the third-straight week, notched a career high in tackles, this time with seven against No. 21 Penn State … Four of those stops against PSU were solos, to go along with a career-high 1.5 TFLs … Registered a career high in tackles for the second straight week at Indiana, recording six solos as well as forcing a fumble … Tallied a career-high four tackles, including a career-best three solos, and the first PBU of his career at Syracuse … Notched his first career interception, and Illinois' first pick of 2007, against Western Illinois … Also had a tackle against WIU … Tied a career high with three tackles against Missouri.

Played in 11 of 12 games and started against Ohio State … Posted two tackles vs. Purdue … Against Ohio State, posted a career-high three tackles … Recorded a career-high three tackles, including two solos, at Penn State … Recorded one solo tackle against Ohio … Assisted on two tackles while seeing time at cornerback against Iowa … Recorded two tackles, including a solo, in his first career game against Eastern Illinois … Joined the team in January of 2006.

Joined the team in January, 2006 … Led Valley Forge team to an undefeated season … Recorded 45 tackles and five interceptions … Returned three interceptions for touchdowns … Posted a 4.40 time in the 40-yard dash … Also played quarterback and returned kicks … Prep school teammate of fellow Illini Randall Hunt … Won a Virginia high school state championship in hurdles … Chose Illinois over Michigan State, Minnesota, Pittsburgh, West Virginia, Syracuse and Connecticut.

Full given name Brandt Vincent Dere Hicks … Born on March 16, 1987 … Son of Sharon Hicks and Robert Vineyard … Has one brother and one sister … Enrolled in general curriculum … Plans to pursue a career in broadcasting after school.