Hagans is pushing Wicks to become Virginia’s next big-time receiver

By Jerry Ratcliffe

Marques Hagans believes it’s his job to get every ounce of potential from the players he coaches.

Whether a player was blessed with ability and comes to work every day, or a player isn’t living up to that potential, unmotivated, slacking, he treats them all the same. Ask Olamide Zaccheaus. Ask Hasise Dubois.

Both credit heart-to-heart, Come to Jesus meetings with Hagans for turning their careers around at Virginia. Both confessed they were just going through the motions until Hagans challenged them to look inside for more. Zaccheaus and Dubois became outstanding receivers their final couple of years in the program.

Then there’s Dontayvion Wicks. He arrived from Cajun country as a four-star recruit at wide receiver, got a taste of major college football as a true freshman and was ready for a breakout year in 2020 before suffering a season-ending injury in training camp.

Wicks had the talent. Wicks had the work ethic, and still does. He’s just champing at the bit for his turn.

Hagans’ job with the 6-1, 205 sophomore from Plaquemine, La., is different from the role he played in reversing Zaccheaus’ and Dubois’ careers.

Hagans wants Wicks to emerge as a big-time wide receiver with no interruptions. He never takes his eyes off Wicks.

“Yes, I’m on his ass every day, every single day, on and off the field,” Hagans smiled.

Wicks will verify that claim in an instant.

“I never had that type of motivation, being held accountable by somebody,” Wicks said. “So I say like, ‘I know you believe in me a lot.’”

We’ve been hearing whispers since late in 2019 about Wicks’ abilities, that he could be the next great receiver for Virginia. Naturally, that was put on hold with the injury a year ago. Now, he’s ready to go.

“I love his attitude, he comes to work every day, he competes,” Hagans said. “He’s physical and he loves to go get the ball. Just trying to help him learn the fundamentals of the position, be consistent, and hopefully with his ability that will give him a chance to be one of the best receivers in the ACC.”

Hagans believes Wicks is ready for that challenge and feedback from the early days of training camp validate those thoughts. That’s why Hagans is relentless in pushing Wicks to the highest level.

“I told him my biggest disappointment is if I don’t get him to maximize the ability that he has,” Hagans said after Monday’s practice. “Every day I’m pushing [the entire wide receivers corps], and that’s no discredit to anyone else in my group. I push everyone the same.

“I think some guys are just in a different category based upon what they’ve been blessed to be able to do ability wise. If I don’t maximize that, I’ll feel like that’s a big disappointment.”

The emergence of Wicks as a playmaker this fall is important, particularly in the absence of Lavel Davis, the 6-7 wide receiver who surprisingly took the ACC by storm as a true freshman last season. Davis suffered a second ACL injury during spring drills and isn’t scheduled to return until November.

Also teaming up at receiver will be Ra’Shaun Henry, who transferred in last season and had a great spring, along with senior slot receiver Billy Kemp, who always seems to be open and always seems to find open spaces after he catches the football.

With a reloaded running game, a big tight end, and a versatile playmaker like Keytaon Thompson, who can line up almost anywhere, dual-threat quarterback Brennan Armstrong will have lots of options in a potentially explosive UVA offense. Wicks could be a big piece.