Holton's Hickman signs NFL contract with Chargers

Forging his path as an undrafted free agent, former HHS football player Forrestal Hickman has now signed a contract with the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League.

Hickman tried out at rookie mini-camps for both San Diego and the Cincinnati Bengals earlier this summer, as well as having a workout with the Green Bay Packers, and it was seemingly only a matter of time before the former Wildcat officially made an NFL roster.

 “He’s done a good job, kind of made some sacrifices and trained hard,” high school coach Brooks Barta said. “He’s well-deserving and we just felt he could latch on for that first year or two and I think he’s probably the kind of guy who could have a long career if he could just kind of get his foot in the door.”

That foot has been planted and it’s a pretty large one, considering Hickman stands 6’ 7” and weights in at 320 lbs. Even among NFL lineman, Barta said that puts him in the top tier.

Aside from that, though, the HHS coach said there were plenty of reasons for the Chargers on Monday to take a chance on the four-year starter and three-time Great Lakes Valley All-Conference selection from Missouri S&T.

“He’s pretty athletic for a guy that big and long. He’s highly intelligent and that’s always a bonus for that level as well,” Barta said. “He’s a good person. They’re not going to have to worry about him getting in trouble or embarrassing a program or anything like that, so there’s a lot of things right there.”

Former NFL strength and conditioning coach Russ Riederer (whose sons played with Hickman at HHS) also pointed to Hickman’s decision-making as a reason he got this chance.

In December, Hickman committed to training with Simoneau Sports Performance out of Kansas City, a training facility run by NFL veteran and former Kansas State (and Smith Center High School) linebacker Mark Simoneau.

While Riederer also worked with Hickman once a week, trying to prep him mentally as well, he said he could see the training in Kansas City paying off on a regular basis, especially at his pro day in St. Joseph, Mo.

“You could tell he (Forrestal) was making leaps and bounds from the time that he spent in Kansas City in that training facility,” Riederer said.

In the end, though, both Barta and Riederer said it might have been something quite simple that allowed Hickman to get a chance on an NFL roster.

Going into college, he had just turned 18 and enters the NFL at the ripe old age of 22. Realistically, Riederer said he should have two more years playing college ball, but at the same time that will give him even more opportunity to develop as a pro.

“To me, they finally figured that out that this kid is extremely young and he’s got a huge upside,” Riederer said.

What the potential turns into is now in Hickman’s hands, but both Riederer and Barta believe he could potentially have a long professional career.

Right now, it starts with mandatory team minicamp, which began for the Chargers on Tuesday and will conclude on Thursday.

Hickman is the son of Brian and Lisa Hickman of Holton. He is the first player of Barta’s coaching tenure to receive an NFL contract.