UNC Wide Receiver Hakeem Nicks is having a rough week

by David Fucillo on Mar 25, 2009 12:00 PM PDT in NFL Draft

One guy who's name has popped up repeatedly here is UNC wide receiver Hakeem Nicks. He first popped up on people's radars after a huge performance at the Meineke Car Care Bowl. More notably was this catch.

Nicks has been hanging around the end of the first round and beginning of the second round in many mock drafts, but this week might drop him a bit. The possible 11 on his Wonderlic test certainly can't be a good thing. However, more importantly is the story that he's gained upwards of 14 pounds since the Combine.

According to Pro Football Talk, since tweaking his hamstring at the Combine (not something I'd heard about), Nicks has been unable to work out, thus causing the weight gain. PFT also says "they've been told" that Nicks has already lost much of it in preparation for private workouts.

One scout at the UNC Pro Day seemed to think Nicks had to have a weight problem and looked more like a fat tight end than a lean wide receiver. If he's already lost a good chunk of that weight though, I don't see that big a problem. I suppose maybe he over-ate while he was on the shelf, but even still, if the weights gone, what's the big deal? I suppose the one negative could be a lack of discipline when it comes to this sort of thing.

The problem for Nicks is that this will follow him around for the next month until the draft. If he puts together some good private workouts, I'd like to think people will forget about it pretty quickly. As the saying goes, it only takes one team to prevent you from sliding down the draft board.

The problem for the 49ers is that I'd be a bit surprised if Nicks is around for their 11th pick of the second round. In their dual mock from two weeks ago, Kiper and McShay were projecting Nicks to the Vikings at 22 and the Titans at 30, respectively. If you're the 49ers and this is a guy you want (which isn't necessarily the case), do you try and move down from #10? If you're not sold on one of the outside linebackers up there maybe you do.

I am still enamored with a guy like Hakeem Nicks. Assuming he doesn't have weight problems he could be a very good receiver in the NFL. At the same time, the 49ers have a batch of young receivers looking to break through and holes on both sides of the line to fill. If you traded down and snagged a pair of first rounders, maybe you make the move for Nicks. If he slides to your second round pick, maybe you grab Nicks. Otherwise, you might as well wait for one of the less heralded receivers. What do you think?

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He may have gained 14 pounds

But he still ran a 4.43 at his pro day. Good enough for me.

Wanna hear some music?

by samhitch on Mar 25, 2009 12:37 PM PDT reply actions

Rashan Woods IS Hakeem Nicks

I drank the Wood’s Kool Aid when they drafted him and look what happened to me. I’m feelin’ the same about Nicks….no seperation for the NFL and a bunch of college highlights…. Sorry to be a pisser. Maclin- great. Barden from Cal Poly later in the draft.- great. But Nicks- the guy will be fishing in the Gulf with his bonus money in 2 years….

by sawzall on Mar 25, 2009 2:01 PM PDT reply actions

Im with sawszall

Maclin or Barden

by rlott#42 on Mar 25, 2009 3:41 PM PDT reply actions

Crab at 10

And if Singletary and McCloughan are using BPA, Crabtree at 10 could be possible (if he’s available). Prior to Crab’s injury, he was the top rated prospect in the draft. He comes from the gimmick TT offense, but he’s made some amazing grabs, and has tremendous YAC ability.

Even then, I’m not sure I am totally sold on Crabtree if he’s available, because of guys like Nicks and Barden who can be found later on. Barden would be nice, but he’s projected to go in round 2 to Oakland (which makes me think Crab slips Oakland), and if that’s the case, wouldn’t the Jags go Nicks (if they too pass on Crab).

Also, what’s Percy Harvin projected at? How was his pro day? Anyone know?

by Andrew Davidson on Mar 25, 2009 4:48 PM PDT reply actions

Percy

I have seen Harvin going late first early second so far. I dont think he makes it out of the 2nd round. The only thing keeping him from going mid 1st is injury issues.

by schexyoung on Mar 25, 2009 5:09 PM PDT up reply actions

check out nfl.com

in the ‘path to the draft’ section of their video page, they have a report. Apparently he lit it up. His speed is ridiculous. Definitely gone by round 2—in fact he probably won’t even make it to round 2.

Throwback unis? Yes. Throwback afros? YES!

by grantmp on Mar 25, 2009 8:48 PM PDT up reply actions

WR not near our BIGGEST need

We have more pressing needs (OLB, OT, any one can rush the passer) and with Morgan and J.Hill showing so much promise we can wait till later rounds. I really think a guy like Demetrius Byrd WR (LSU) would be a solid 5th round pick. He had a great Jr year then last year struggled with LSU’s QB situation. Very fast with great hands. Check out some of his youtube stuff.

More than Byrd, I would love to see some kind of compliment to our power running game in the form of a weapon like Percy Harvin WR (UF).

Any thoughts on these two players? I think Byrd would be a great value pick in the 5th rd.

by schexyoung on Mar 25, 2009 5:07 PM PDT reply actions

11 on the wonderlic?

NEXT!

MURS for President!!!!!!!

by jtoj on Mar 25, 2009 6:06 PM PDT reply actions

I might be the most vocal supporter of Nicks here

I go to UNC and have watched this kid play every saturday during the season for the last 3 years, and there is no way he’s the next Rashaun Woods. Nicks is a big guy and has not shown any signs of having weight issues in his entire collegiate career. He’s a smart football player if not a smart test taker who runs his routes with precision and takes obvious joy in down field blocking. He has under appreciated run-after-catch ability as well as good deep speed. This speed won’t translate as much to the next level but his size and speed and jumping ability will allow him to match up well on well-throw jump balls at the next level. He has spectacular field awareness and big, soft hands that cradle the ball and catches away from his body. Furthermore, he’s a winner. UNC may not have been that good the last few years but they are very much on the rise, in a large part thanks to this kid. He went to high school down in charlotte with form gator national champion chris leak and won state championships there. He shows up huge in big games like the Meinke car care bowl (great name, no?) and at clutch times during the game. I think he’s only scratched the surface of his potential and with good coaching (can anyone say Jerry Sullivan? Best WR coach in the league) he could be a pro-bowl player for years to come. He’s not a one hit wonder but rather a player that’s gotten better each year and really hit his stride once he got a quality QB and a pro-style offense with Butch Davis.

I wouldn’t be sad to see him drafted by the Niners at 10 but I know that won’t happen. Now I’m hoping we either trade down for him or somehow he miraculously falls to us in the second.

Oh, and for those who will inevitably call me a homer, I was very skeptical when we drafted Balmer last year…I haven’t given up on him but I didn’t think it was the right choice.

by foosball4949 on Mar 25, 2009 8:21 PM PDT reply actions