Hargrave Military Academy has a reputation for disciplining and producing better athletes. Redshirt freshman Cedric Hickman said Hargrave made him a stronger person.
Now, a little more than a month after he was arrested for five counts of breaking or entering a motor vehicle, Hickman is ready to take the strength he said he gained at Hargrave and open up a new chapter of his life.
Following the incident, Hickman said he kept in close contact with football coach Tom O’Brien, who said he wanted to wait until after Hickman’s Jan. 2 court date to make a decision regarding his status with the football team. According to Hickman, O’Brien released him last Friday.
“He released me from the team because he said he didn’t want any thieves on the team,” Hickman said. “I just sat there in shock because you can’t really call anyone a thief unless you were there and knew what happened.
“I respect his decision, but I don’t respect the things he said to me.”
Hickman’s high school teammate Tony Gorham, now a sophomore at Winston-Salem State University, said he thought something was missing from the story when he heard about the incident because it didn’t sound like Hickman.
“In Winston, everyone knows that Ced is a good and classy person,” Gorham said. “Everything happens for a reason; maybe [State] just isn’t the right place for him.”
Hickman said after talking to O’Brien, he withdrew from classes and is looking to transfer. Due to his eagerness to get back on the field, he is considering Division I-AA schools such as Appalachian State.
“If I go to an ACC school, I will lose eligibility,” Hickman said. “I’m ready to play. App has a good program, and they are a three-peat national championship team. I’m hoping to talk to their coaches this week.”
Hickman said he is ready to put the past behind him and accepts the challenges that lie ahead.
“People make mistakes, and they learn from their mistakes,” he said. “I was at the wrong place at the wrong time.
“People should not be judged by their mistakes, but the lessons they learn from them. You have to be careful about the company you keep.”
Hickman understands his life is going to be different, but said he can adjust to a new system and atmosphere wherever it may be.
“It’s going to be hard to leave my teammates because they are like my brothers,” Hickman said. “But I’m ready. Tough times don’t last long; tough people do.”
Cameron Ketner, sophomore in engineering and former high school teammate at North Forsyth, said Hickman suffered a knee injury junior year of high school and was still able to make it to State. Ketner also said that he believes Hickman can get past his situation since he got over his struggle with his injury.
“It might be a harder road now for him to achieve his goals,” Ketner said. “But nothing is going to stop him.
“If anyone can bounce back from this, it’s going to be Ced.”
What he’s doing nowThe judge in the Jan. 2 court case assigned Hickman with 225 hours of community service to be completed by Dec. 31, 2008. With the case continued until July, Hickman said his personal goal is to complete his service hours by July. He is working with ground maintenance on campus and said he has completed approximately 20 hours.
-Preston Boyles
Cedric Hickman by the numbers1 start1 touchdown reception4 receptions10 games played20 yards receiving21 years oldSource: N.C. State Athletics