University of North Carolina Athletics
NFL Mock Drafts Like Nicks
January 25, 2009 | Football
Jan. 25, 2009
Chapel Hill, N.C. ---- University of North Carolina record-setting wide receiver Hakeem Nicks is receiving quite a bit of pre-NFL draft buzz just a few weeks after his 217-yard performance against West Virginia in the Meineke Car Care Bowl.
Nicks, who established 14 records at UNC, is in the first round of most NFL mock drafts. ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. has the junior from Charlotte at No. 22, heading to the Minnesota Vikings. Meanwhile, FoxSports.com has Nicks going to the Dolphins at No. 25 and SI.com thinks he's a good fit for the New York Giants at No. 29. All that should be good news to Nicks, who is hoping to become the Tar Heels' 18th overall first-round draft pick and second straight. DT Ketwan Balmer was picked in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers.
Nicks sat down with head coach Butch Davis after the bowl game to discuss his draft possibilities. He declared for the NFL Draft on Jan. 5.
Nicks has been in Florida since the start of January training for the NFL combine, which begins Feb. 19 in Indianapolis. In the next few days, Nicks will be taking part in an ESPN skills challenge that will be broadcast at a later date.
The NFL Draft will be held April 25-26 at Radio City Music Hall in New York.
