When Texas Longhorns senior linebacker Jordan Hicks took part in Senior Night ceremonies, it didn't necessarily end hopes that he would return for a sixth season in Austin, but by accepting an invite to the Senior Bowl on Monday, Hicks did announce his intentions.

So while he may still apply for a sixth season of eligibility that would almost certainly be granted to him since he never redshirted and missed most of two full seasons, his participation in the Senior Bowl will end his eligibility as a Longhorn.

And that's hardly a shock at this point after Hicks enjoyed his first healthy season at Texas and proved that he's recovered from the Achilles injury that ended his 2013 season. In the latest rankings from WalterFootball.com, Hicks is projected to come off the board between the third and fifth rounds.

On the season, he's the leading tackler for the Longhorns with 140 stops to go along with 11 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and two interceptions. He reached double-digit tackles in eight of the 12 games this season, including 18 tackles against UCLA. After winning a Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week award for 15 tackles and an interception against Kansas, Hicks also earned recognition as a semifinalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award.