Ask Kent Hicks about the intricacies of punting and watch as his mile-wide grin stretches a tiny bit further.

The Westshore RebelsB次元官网网址� plus-sized punter B次元官网网址� he stands 6B次元官网网址�4B次元官网网址� and weighs 290 pounds B次元官网网址� is unusually imposing for the position. He certainly has a lot of power behind his kicks, but itB次元官网网址檚 much more than that, he explained.

B次元官网网址淚 actually know how to kick. I know how to spin the ball properly, take it from the hip down, drop angles, everything B次元官网网址� After people see me kick they say, B次元官网网址榦h yeah, he can kick,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� he said.

Head coach J.C. Boice was admittedly a bit skeptical when his hulking star defensive lineman told him he could kick.

B次元官网网址淲hen he said B次元官网网址榗oach I can puntB次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� I didnB次元官网网址檛 really take him seriously,B次元官网网址� Boice said. B次元官网网址淲e watched him and we were just floored. HeB次元官网网址檚 just a very explosive athlete.B次元官网网址�

For Hicks, whose B次元官网网址渄ay jobB次元官网网址� involves terrorizing opposing offensive linemen and quarterbacks as a formidable member of the RebelsB次元官网网址� stout defensive line, punting and kicking have been part of his game since he started playing in a community league at the age of six.

When the Rebels were looking for a new punter earlier this year, they held a sort of open tryout at practice. Multiple players stepped up and gave it a shot, but it was Hicks that stood out.

The Abbotsford native has taken the job and flourished. Last Saturday, in the RebelsB次元官网网址� crucial win over the previously unbeaten Okanagan Sun, Hicks was called on to punt nine times, the majority of which came in a slow first half for the Westshore offence. Hicks averaged a solid 38.6 yards on his kicks, but that doesnB次元官网网址檛 tell the whole story. The former Manitoba Bison frequently pinned the Sun deep in their own territory, sometimes inside their own 10 yard line, giving the Rebels a B次元官网网址渓eg upB次元官网网址� in the battle for field position. His punting was one of the reasons Westshore was able to hold the Sun to 10 first half points, making the RebelsB次元官网网址� first-half offensive struggles less impactful.

HicksB次元官网网址檚 signature punting moment came on Aug. 27 against the Valley Huskers.

The Rebels maintained a lead throughout much of the contest against the overmatched Huskers, but it wasnB次元官网网址檛 quite the all-out blowout that many expected. In the second half, the game was still in the balance when Hicks was called upon for a punt from Rebel territory.

His kick was not one of his best, but he more than made up for it when he hustled down the field and recovered his own kick.

B次元官网网址淚 kicked it, and it was a bit of a shank B次元官网网址� I just took off down the field for the ball,B次元官网网址� he recalled. B次元官网网址淚 saw it in that guyB次元官网网址檚 face that was trying to recover the ball B次元官网网址� he tried to dive for that ball but it was too late. I already had my mind on that mission.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚t shows you what a hustler Kent Hicks is,B次元官网网址� Boice said. B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 a very driven individual B次元官网网址� to boot the ball and be one of the first guys down there it shows you his competitive nature and his athletic ability.B次元官网网址�

Of course, HicksB次元官网网址檚 primary responsibility remains on the defensive line and heB次元官网网址檚 having a standout season in that regard as well.

B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 incredibly disruptive. As an offensive guy, youB次元官网网址檙e always looking at who they have over there that can take us out of our comfort zone,B次元官网网址� Boice said. B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 a great athlete, heB次元官网网址檚 got a high football acumen and heB次元官网网址檚 very driven.B次元官网网址�

Hicks has tallied 13 tackles, three sacks and one forced fumble across six games, playing a key role in the the teamB次元官网网址檚 pass rush and against the run.

Defensive linemen have a variety of techniques at their disposal and Hicks likes to dabble in just about all of them, preferring the push and pull method, but also employing a classic swim move against shorter opponents.

B次元官网网址淚 also just sometimes throw in that nice bull rush because it always catches people off guard B次元官网网址� theyB次元官网网址檙e expecting something fancy,B次元官网网址� Hicks said.

Off the field, he has quickly become one of the teamB次元官网网址檚 leaders as well.

B次元官网网址淜ent Hicks has been the absolute surprise of our recruiting class. We knew we were getting a very good defensive lineman, but I did not know what a great young man and leader Kent is. He has integrity, he has work ethic, he has passion and he has conviction,B次元官网网址� Boice said.

HeB次元官网网址檚 also got a friendly nature and a canyon-sized smile that makes one wonder how Hicks can excel at a sport like football that requires aggression and a bit of a mean streak.

His dream is to play professional football and this year heB次元官网网址檒l be eligible for the CFL draft. If any of the CFLB次元官网网址檚 nine teams are looking for a skilled defensive lineman who can also handle punting duties, theyB次元官网网址檒l know who to call.