Maurice Hicks
Encyclopedia
Maurice Hicks is an American football
running back
for the Florida Tuskers of the United Football League. He was originally signed by the Chicago Bears
as an undrafted free agent in 2002. He played college football
at North Carolina A&T.
Hicks has also played for the San Francisco 49ers
, Scottish Claymores
and Minnesota Vikings
.
in Emporia, Virginia
Hicks was a standout in football
as a tailback
and linebacker
.
, he broke the NCAA
Division I and II single game rushing records by rushing for 437 rushing yards. As a junior, he was a first team All-MEAC selection, after rushing for 1,487 yards.
in the 2002 NFL Draft
.
by the San Francisco 49ers
in 2003. While with the 49ers he was the second string running back behind Kevan Barlow
.
.
Hicks was released by the Vikings, on February 18, 2009.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
for the Florida Tuskers of the United Football League. He was originally signed by the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
as an undrafted free agent in 2002. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at North Carolina A&T.
Hicks has also played for the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
, Scottish Claymores
Scottish Claymores
The Scottish Claymores were an American football team from Scotland. The franchise played in the World League of American Football between 1995 and 2004, initially playing all home games at Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh and latterly sharing home games with Hampden Park, Glasgow...
and Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
.
Early years
While attending Greensville County High SchoolGreensville County High School
Greensville County High School is a public high school located in Emporia, Virginia community in Greensville County, Virginia. It is part of the Greensville County School Division and opened in 1976. Athletic teams compete in the Virginia High School League's AA Southside District in Region...
in Emporia, Virginia
Emporia, Virginia
Emporia is an independent city located within the confines of Greensville County, Virginia, United States. The population was estimated to be 5,927 in 2010. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Emporia with surrounding Greensville county for statistical purposes...
Hicks was a standout in football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
as a tailback
Tailback
Tailback can mean:* Halfback * A line of motor vehicles caught up in traffic congestion; a traffic jam...
and linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
.
College career
While attending North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Hicks finished his career with a school-record 2,812 rushing yards. As a senior, he was a third team Division I-AA All-American selection, the Black College Offensive Player of the Year, a first team All-MEAC selection, and he led the MEAC in rushing yards with 1,325 rushing yards. During his senior season, in a game against Morgan State UniversityMorgan State University
Morgan State University, formerly Centenary Biblical Institute , Morgan College and Morgan State College , is a historically black college in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. Morgan is Maryland's designated public urban university and the largest HBCU in the state of Maryland...
, he broke the NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
Division I and II single game rushing records by rushing for 437 rushing yards. As a junior, he was a first team All-MEAC selection, after rushing for 1,487 yards.
Chicago Bears
He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Chicago BearsChicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the 2002 NFL Draft
2002 NFL Draft
The 2002 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. The draft is known officially as the "NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting" and has been conducted annually since 1936. The draft took place April 20–21, 2002 at the theater at...
.
San Francisco 49ers
Hicks was signed as a free agentFree agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
by the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
in 2003. While with the 49ers he was the second string running back behind Kevan Barlow
Kevan Barlow
Kevan C. Barlow is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the third round of the 2001 NFL Draft...
.
Minnesota Vikings
On March 4, 2008 he signed a three-year deal with the Minnesota VikingsMinnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
.
Hicks was released by the Vikings, on February 18, 2009.