Guard, New
York Giants
Age: 23
College: Ohio
State
Height: 6’2” Weight: 258
Prelude:
After missing
play during his sophomore year due to a knee injury, Hicks was a two-time
All-American in college who won the Outland and Lombardi trophies and made such
an impression with his play as an offensive lineman that he was runner-up for
the 1973 Heisman Trophy. He was taken by the Giants in the first round of the
1974 NFL draft (third overall) and moved directly into the starting lineup.
1974 Season Summary
Appeared in
all 14 games
[Bracketed
numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]
Awards &
Honors:
NFC Rookie of
the Year: UPI
Giants went 2-12
to finish fifth in the NFC East.
Aftermath:
Hicks played
with the Giants for another three seasons but failed to achieve the anticipated
success in the NFL. He was traded to Pittsburgh in 1978 but didn’t play for the
Steelers, ending a pro career in which he appeared in 52 games.
--
Rookie of the Year Profiles feature players who were named Rookie
of the Year in the NFL (including NFC/AFC), AFL (1960-69), or USFL (1983-85) by
a recognized organization (Associated Press – Offense or Defense, Newspaper
Enterprise Association, United Press International, The Sporting News, or the
league itself – Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year).
