| Hicks is certainly one of the draft's most intriguing prospects following a roller-coaster of a college career. After starting at a junior college in California, he was set to join one of the game's most vaunted programs in LSU, but NCAA infractions scuttled those plans. Instead, he went on to star for Regina, a school based in the Canadian prairies. A native of Elk Grove, Calif., Hicks played for Sacramento City College in 2007 and was a Mid-Empire Conference first-team All-Star one year later. He was on the verge of heading to Baton Rouge in 2009, but a report revealing that Hicks received impermissible benefits caused a change of direction. Instead of taking on SEC foes, Hicks headed north to Saskatchewan, where he became one the most dominant players in Canada's version of Division I. From 2010-11, Hicks recorded 41 unassisted tackles and eight sacks in 16 games. As a senior, he won several awards, including Canada West's outstanding lineman, and set a single-season school record with 6 1/2 sacks. This will actually be the second draft Hicks will have taken part in - he was selected in the 10th round by Omaha in last year's United Football League draft. Hicks is believed to be the first player from Canada Interuniversity Sport to participate in the NFL combine. However, questions are sure to pop up about how he would handle playing at the NFL level after years facing mediocre competition north of the border. Still, he has the potential to be a late-round selection based on his prototypical size and athleticism as a defensive end. |
