Hakeem Nicks

Not to be confused with Akiem Hicks.
Hakeem Nicks

refer to caption

Nicks with the Indianapolis Colts
No. 88, 14, 15
Position: Wide receiver
Personal information
Date of birth: (1988-01-14) January 14, 1988
Place of birth: Charlotte, North Carolina
Height: 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight: 208 lb (94 kg)
Career information
High school: Charlotte (NC) Independence
College: North Carolina
NFL Draft: 2009 / Round: 1 / Pick: 29
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of 2015
Receptions: 356
Receiving yards: 5,081
Receiving average: 14.3
Receiving touchdowns: 31
Player stats at NFL.com

Hakeem Amir Nicks[1] (born January 14, 1988) is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He played college football at North Carolina, and was drafted by the Giants in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft. Nicks has also played for the Indianapolis Colts.

Personal

Hakeem Nicks was born in Charlotte, North Carolina. He attended Independence High School (Charlotte, North Carolina). Playing football there, he was rated as one of the Top 10 Players in North Carolina by SuperPrep and Rivals.com.[2] He was also named the Charlotte Observer Offensive Player of the Year and was also selected to the North Carolina Associated Press All-State team. He never lost a game in high school, and completed his senior year with MVP honors at the 4-AA state championship game. In the game, he posted eight catches for 205 yards and two touchdowns (one for 11 and another for 80 yards). He posted 93 catches for 1,819 yards and 20 touchdowns in his senior year.

Nicks is the son of Rob Nicks, Jr. and Lisa Mason. He has two brothers, Anwar and Aleef, and a daughter named Harmony.[3][4]

College career

During his freshman season, Nicks started all 11 games in which he played, missing one game due to an ankle sprain. Nicks led the team and set UNC single-season records for receptions and receiving yards by a freshman. Ranked third in the ACC in receiving yards per game and eighth in receptions per game.[5]

Nicks improved dramatically in his sophomore season, setting a single-season school record with 74 catches for 958 receiving yards along with five touchdowns. His single-season receiving yards were the third most in school history. Nicks finished second in the ACC with 79.8 receiving yards per game and third with 6.17 catches per game. Has made at least one catch in 22 of 23 games played and caught at least two passes in each game his sophomore season.[5]

Nicks was honored as a First-team All-ACC selection at wide receiver. By the completion of his Junior season, Nicks set 14 school records at UNC, including career receptions (181), career receiving yards (2,580) and career touchdowns (21). During his last season, Nicks tallied 68 catches for school records of 1,222 yards and 12 touchdowns. The 68 receptions tied for third most in a season in school history. Nicks led the ACC and ranked 12th nationally with 94.0 receiving yards per game. Nicks caught at least one pass in 26 straight games and had a catch in 35 of 36 career games. He set the UNC single-season receiving yardage record and became North Carolina's first 1,000-yard receiver.[5]

Nicks ended his career at UNC in the 2008 Meineke Car Care Bowl where caught eight passes for a bowl record of 217 yards, with three going for touchdowns of 73, 66 and 25 yards, in a game against West Virginia. One of his other catches in that game was offered a candidate for the "Greatest Catch of the Year."

Four years after he had left North Carolina, Nicks was found guilty of academic fraud during the 2008 school year. His record setting season will remain in the media guide, but the school said they will place an asterisk by his records. Nicks was found to have received some jewelry and money during his years at Carolina.[6]

College statistics summary

Rushing Receiving
Year G Att Yds TD Long Avg Rec Yds TD Long Avg
  2006   11   1 10   0   10   10.0     39 660   4   83   16.9
  2007   12   1 -1   0   -1   -1.0     74 958   5   53   12.9
  2008**   13   5 34   1   12   6.8     68 1222*   12*   74   18.0
TOTAL   36   7 43   1   12   8.6   181* 2,840* 21*   83   15.9

* school record ** vacated from school record books

Source: Hakeem Nicks - Career Statistics, North Carolina Tar Heels, 2009

Professional career

2009 NFL draft

Considered to be one of the top wide receivers available in the 2009 NFL Draft,[7] Nicks drew comparisons to Hines Ward and Anquan Boldin. Butch Davis, Nicks' coach at North Carolina, went even further, comparing him to Hall of Famer Michael Irvin.[8] The New York Giants, in need to replace wide-out Plaxico Burress, selected Nicks in the first round, 29th overall. Nicks was the 5th receiver taken in the draft, and one out of 6 taken in the first round alone.

Pre-draft measurables
Ht WtArm lengthHand size 40-yd dash 10-yd split 20-yd split 20-ss 3-cone Vert Broad BPWonderlic
6 ft 1 in 212 lb33.5 in10.5 in 4.63 s 1.52 s 2.60 s 4.43 s 6.96 s 36 in 11
20-ss and 3-cone from UNC Pro Day, all others from NFL Combine[9]

New York Giants

Nicks at the Giants' Super Bowl XLVI parade in 2012 with Victor Cruz.

On August 1, 2009, Nicks signed a five-year, $12.54 million contract. The deal includes a $6.5 million signing bonus.[10] During training camp, Nicks vied for a starting position with the Giants' other receivers, most notably Domenik Hixon and Steve Smith, and Hakeem Nicks had the best overall average of all these wide receivers with a 16.0 average.[11]

Nicks made his first career NFL reception on September 13, 2009 against the Washington Redskins on WR screen pass for 11 yards.

On October 4, 2009 against the Kansas City Chiefs, Nicks recorded his first touchdown reception on a 54-yard screen pass. For the next four games, Nicks would score a touchdown pass in each, becoming the first Giants rookie to score touchdowns in four consecutive games since Bob Gaiters, who scored in five straight games in 1961.[12] However, Odell Beckham Jr. broke that record. On the strength of that feat, Nicks was named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month.[13]

Nicks ended the season starting in the #2 wide receiver spot opposite Steve Smith after an injury to Domenik Hixon in week 2 and outperforming Mario Manningham as of week 14.

Nicks recorded his first 3-touchdown game against the Carolina Panthers during week 1 of the 2010 NFL season, catching a total of 4 passes for 75 yards in a winning effort. During week five, when New York visited Houston, Nicks exploited the NFL's 29th ranked secondary and more specifically Texans rookie cornerback Kareem Jackson as he reeled in career highs with 12 catches for 130 yards. In addition, Nicks caught two touchdown passes on the day from quarterback Eli Manning.[14] Nicks was inactive for the final game of the season in Washington due to a broken toe in his left foot.[15]

ESPN.com analyst K. C. Joyner stated he believes Nicks has the potential to become the NFL's best wide receiver in part because of his superior route-running.[16]

In 2011, Nicks had his second straight 1,000 + yard receiving season. He caught 76 passes for 1,192 yards (15.7 yards per catch average) and 7 touchdowns.

The Giants moved on to the playoffs in the 2011 season where Hakeem Nicks played an essential role throughout the entire postseason. In the wild card round against the Atlanta Falcons, Nicks recorded 6 receptions for 115 yards and 2 touchdowns. The following week against the top seeded Green Bay Packers, Nicks hauled in 7 catches for 165 yards and 2 touchdowns, including a 37-yard Hail Mary reception at the end of the first half. In Super Bowl XLVI between the New York Giants and New England Patriots, Nicks was the leading receiver for the game with 10 receptions for 109 yards to help secure a New York Giants victory.

In 2013, Nicks did not record a touchdown reception, but still finished with 896 receiving yards in 15 games played for the Giants.[17] Nearing the trade deadline on October 29, there was speculation that the New York Giants were going to trade him. As the deadline passed, no deal was done and Nicks remained a Giant until his contract expired at the conclusion of the season, making him a free agent.

Indianapolis Colts

On March 14, 2014, Nicks signed a one-year deal worth a maximum of $5.5 million with the Indianapolis Colts.[18] In the Colts' Week 17 game against the Tennessee Titans, Nicks had 3 receptions for 46 yards, taking him over 5,000 receiving yards for his career. He finished the season with just 38 receptions, 408 yards and 4 touchdowns.

Tennessee Titans

On April 24, 2015, Nicks signed a 1-year deal with the Tennessee Titans.[19]

Nicks was released by the Titans on September 5, 2015.[20]

Second stint with Giants

On November 17, 2015, Nicks returned to the Giants, signing a one-year $745,000 contract.[21]

New Orleans Saints

Nicks signed a one-year contract with the New Orleans Saints on July 27, 2016. On August 8, 2016 the Saints waived Nicks.[22][23]

Career statistics

Regular season

Season Team Games Receiving Rushing Fumbles
GP GS Rec Yds Avg Lng TD Att Yds Avg Lng TD FUM Lost
2009 New York Giants 14 6 47 790 16.8 68T 6 2 8 4.0 9 0 2 0
2010 New York Giants 13 12 79 1,052 13.3 46T 11 – – – – – 1 0
2011 New York Giants 15 15 76 1,192 15.7 68 7 – – – – – – –
2012 New York Giants 13 11 53 692 13.1 50 3 – – – – – – –
2013 New York Giants 15 15 56 896 16.0 57 0 – – – – – – –
2014 Indianapolis Colts 16 6 38 405 10.7 29 4 – – – – – – –
2015 New York Giants 6 2 7 54 7.7 19 0
Total 92 67 356 5,081 14.3 68 31 2 8 4.0 9 0 3 0

Postseason

Season Team Games Receiving Rushing Fumbles
GP GS Rec Yds Avg Lng TD Att Yds Avg Lng TD FUM Lost
2011 New York Giants 4 4 28 444 15.9 72T 4 – – – – – – –
2014 Indianapolis Colts 3 0 6 98 16.3 45 1 – – – – – – –
Total 7 4 34 542 15.9 72 5 – – – – – 0 0

Awards and accomplishments

References

  1. ↑ "ESPN Profile". ESPN.com.
  2. ↑ "North Carolina Top 30 2006", Rivals.com, January 23, 2006
  3. ↑ "With brothers in and out of jail, Giants wide receiver Hakeem Nicks has found peace and Harmony". NY Daily News. 20 November 2010. Retrieved 21 September 2012.
  4. ↑ Reilly, Rick (4 September 2012). "Nicks goes his own way". ESPN. Retrieved 21 September 2012.
  5. 1 2 3 "Player Bio:Hakeem Nicks". TarHeelBlue. Retrieved 14 June 2012.
  6. ↑ Hinton, Matt. "Ex-Tar Heel Hakeem Nicks guilty of academic fraud during final season at UNC". CBSSports.com. Retrieved 2012-07-20.
  7. ↑ Pompei, Dan (April 8, 2009), "2009 NFL Draft: Dan Pompei's top wide receivers", Chicago Tribune
  8. ↑ Vacchiano, Ralph (May 6, 2009), "Giants first-round pick Hakeem Nicks grabs comparison to Michael Irvin", New York Daily News
  9. ↑ Nawrocki, Nolan (April 21, 2009). "The Way We Hear It — draft edition". Pro Football Weeklywebsite. Retrieved April 25, 2009.
  10. ↑ Lapointe, Joe (August 1, 2009), "Giants Reach Deal With First-Round Pick", New York Times
  11. ↑ "Giants QB Manning has new deal but needs go-to receivers", NFL.com, Associated Press, August 6, 2009
  12. ↑ "On the offensive", Giants.com, October 28, 2009 |first1= missing |last1= in Authors list (help)
  13. ↑ "Giants' Hakeem Nicks Named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month", NESN.com, October 28, 2009 |first1= missing |last1= in Authors list (help)
  14. ↑ Elfin, David (October 10, 1010). "Hakeem Nicks, Giants Defense Punish Texans In Complete Rout". AOL.Original. Retrieved October 10, 2010.
  15. ↑ Associated Press, (January 2, 2011) Webster, O'Hara, Nicks among Giants inactives
  16. ↑ "Football Scientist: Why Nicks may be the NFL's best WR soon". ESPN New York. 2010-01-02. Retrieved 2010-12-22.
  17. ↑ Wells, Brad (April 27, 2014). "Giants called WR Hakeem Nicks 'a cancer', says RB Ahmad Bradshaw". stampedeblue.com. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
  18. ↑ "Colts, Hakeem Nicks reach deal". ESPN.com. March 14, 2014. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
  19. ↑ Gantt, Darin (April 24, 2015). "Hakeem Nicks is heading to Tennessee for his next chance". profootballtalk.nbcsports.com. Retrieved April 24, 2015.
  20. ↑ Hanzus, Dan (September 5, 2015). "Tennessee Titans release WR Hakeem Nicks". NFL.com. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
  21. ↑ "Hakeem Nicks". Spotrac.com. Retrieved 2015-11-17.
  22. ↑ Smith, Michael (July 27, 2016). "Saints sign Hakeem Nicks". NBCSports.com. Retrieved July 27, 2016.
  23. ↑ Triplett, Mike (July 27, 2016). "Saints sign veteran WR Hakeem Nicks to 1-year deal". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 27, 2016.
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