2023-24: Played in and started 12 games … Was on the field for 662 total snaps (653 defense, nine special teams) … Had 36 tackles, including 2.0 for loss, along with seven pass breakups, an interception and a pass breakup … Had a tackle for loss in the opener against The Citadel … Had four tackles in the win over UAB … Posted four tackles and two pass break ups at Wisconsin … Had a quarterback hurry in the win at Ball State … Recorded six tackles and an interception in the win over Coastal Carolina … Had four tackles at James Madison … Selected to wear the #0 jersey for the game … Had four tackles and three pass break ups in the win over ULM … Had four tackles and a pass break up in the win over Georgia State … Had a tackle at Texas State … Missed the Marshall game … Posted three tackles against Old Dominion … Had five tackles, including one for loss, and a pass breakup at App State … Played 58 defensive snaps in the Myrtle Beach Bowl against Ohio.
2022-23: Played in all 13 games for East Carolina, making three starts … Tallied 20 tackles and two pass break ups … Booked one tackle and was credited with a pair of pass breakups against No. 13 NC State, earning his first career start ... Registered one solo tackle versus Old Dominion ... Tallied a pair of tackles (one solo) in the win over Campbell Posted six tackles in the win over Temple … Recorded seven tackles over Coastal Carolina in the Pirates’ bowl win … Entered the NCAA Transfer Portal in December … Enrolled at Georgia Southern in January … Made the Honor Roll in the spring.
2021-22: Appeared in 11 games as a key member of special teams unit and in a reserve role in the Pirates’ secondary … Booked four stops (all solo) tying his career-high with two against Appalachian State … Registered first career TFL (-2 yards) versus the Mountaineers in the fourth quarter … One of four stops came as a member of defense (three special teams).
2020-21: Played in five games during the COVID-19 pandemic season … Booked four tackles (all solo) as a member of special teams unit … Also gained valuable experience in a reserve role in the secondary … Led the team with four special teams stops (2/UCF, 1/Tulane, 1/SMU) … Booked at least one stop in three of five games (multiple once).
2019: Appeared in five contest as a redshirt freshman … Experienced late -season action against USF, Cincinnati, SMU, Connecticut and Tulsa, but did not record any official statistics … Earned promotion to defensive depth chart as Colby Gore’s top backup at cornerback prior to home tilt vs. Bulls.
2018-19: Maintained redshirt status after playing in four games during his true freshman campaign … Experienced action as a defensive reserve and on special teams in contests vs. UCF, Memphis, Tulane and Connecticut … Was not credited with any tackles, but did record an interception against the Huskies (no return) … Picked off UConn quarterback Brandon Bisack’s pass at the ECU 39-yard line on a 2nd-and-10 play with 39 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter … Inked with the Pirates during the early signing period in December, 2017.
HIGH SCHOOL: Earned three letters and served as a team captain for coach Brian Hales at Butler High … Was an All-Southwestern 4A Conference selection as a junior and senior … Collected 45 tackles, a pair of sacks, 10 pass breakups and five interceptions in 2017 while playing a key role in the Bulldogs’ 8-3 record, a conference co-championship (with a 6-1 league mark) and trip to the state playoffs … Credited with 42 stops, eight deflections and three picks as a free safety during junior campaign in 2016, a year in which BHS compiled a 12-2 ledger … Opened sophomore season as captain of BHS’s junior varsity squad before earning a promotion to the varsity unit and responding with 20 tackles, five pass breakups and one interception … Also earned track letters, competing in sprints and relays for the Bulldogs.
PERSONAL: Born Damel Hickman on August 24 in Charlotte, NC … Son of Daniel Hickman and Melanie Taylor.
MAJOR: Health Fitness Specialist (Graduated; ECU)
