Eric Hicks (American football)

Infobox NFLactive


name=Eric Hicks
currentteam=Free Agent
currentnumber=--
currentposition=Defensive end
birthdate=birth date and age|1976|6|17
birthplace=Erie, Pennsylvania
heightft=6
heightin=6
weight=280
debutyear=1998
debutteam=Kansas City Chiefs
college=Maryland
undraftedyear=1998
pastteams=
* Kansas City Chiefs (1998-2006)
* New York Jets (2007)
nfl=HIC446311

Eric David Hicks (born June 17, 1976 Erie, Pennsylvania) is an American football defensive end who is currently a free agent in the National Football League. He was originally signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 1998. He played college football at Maryland.

High school career

Hicks attended Mercyhurst Preparatory School in Erie, Pennsylvania from 1991 to 1994 after transferring there before his sophomore year. As a senior, he posted 6.0 sacks, and 68 tackles. He was also named First Team All-Metro. In 2006, he received the Distinguished Alumni Award.

College career

Hicks attended the University of Maryland, College Park, majoring in criminology and criminal justice, where he finished his career with 9.5 sacks, 147 tackles (26 for losses), three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and three pass deflections.

Professional career

Hicks was an undrafted free agent in 1998 when he made the Kansas City Chiefs opening day roster, the only rookie free agent to make the club’s opening day roster that year. He started 90 of the 96 games he has played in. He ranks fifth in franchise history with 40.5 career sacks. He recorded a career high 14.0 sacks in just 11 starts during the 2000 campaign, becoming just the fourth Kansas City Chiefs player to ever reach the 14.0-sack mark. Hick has racked up 496 tackles (232 solo), 40.5 sacks (-258.0 yards), 154 QB pressures, 13 passes defensed, seven forced fumbles, and five fumble recoveries, one of which he returned for a 44-yard touchdown. He accumulated four tackles (three solo) in his lone . Hicks saw a decline in production in 2006, as he only registered two solo tackles and five assisted tackles in 16 games. He signed to a six-year contract in 2004 but became a salary cap casualty before the 2007 season and was cut in May 2007. Hicks was signed by the New York Jets for the 2007 season, appearing in 11 games while recording 17 tackles and no sacks. On December 18, 2007 he was released by the Jets.

Personal

Eric Hicks was born to Cheryl Vaughn and Augustas Hicks. He has 2 sisters and 2 brothers.

External links

* [http://www.newyorkjets.com/team/player/1258-eric-hicks New York Jets bio]