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Nicks, Tar Heels' best receiver, thinking about playing in NFL
He says he'll make his decision after North Carolina's bowl game
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Published: December 17, 2008
CHAPEL HILL
Hakeem Nicks might play his final game for North Carolina in the Meineke Car Care Bowl.
Nicks, a record-setting receiver, is looking at the possibility of giving up his final season of eligibility to enter the NFL Draft and is consulting with Coach Butch Davis. Nicks said he will try to make his decision after the bowl game, scheduled for Dec. 27 in his hometown of Charlotte.
"It should be a day or two after the bowl game," Nicks said. "I want to get it over with. Everybody's just kind of clueless right now as to what I'm going to do, but me and Coach Davis will sit down and talk. I'll look at my options and go from there."
Nicks said he isn't motivated by financial need but is simply wondering if the time has come for him to move to the NFL after what has been an outstanding career at North Carolina.
He's the first receiver in school history to have a 1,000-yard season after finishing with 60 catches for 1,005 yards. He has scored 10 touchdowns this season, nine receiving and one rushing, and has a school-record 2,623 receiving yards in his career. He also has 173 career catches, five short of the school record.
"It's satisfying knowing that I've got a trademark here at Carolina and that my name is definitely in the record books whether I decide to come back as a senior or not," Nicks said. "My name is there. I feel like I've earned it. I've worked hard for it."
Nicks, who played at Charlotte Independence but didn't start until his senior year, is eager to play in the bowl game at Bank of America Stadium. He grew up following the hometown Panthers and the Atlanta Falcons and was last in the stadium when he was in the seventh grade. He said he is grateful for a chance to play in front of family and friends, especially if it proves to be his last game as a Tar Heel.
"It's pretty important to be playing in front of my home crowd, but the main focus is to get prepared this week and practice with high intensity," Nicks said. "We've been off for a while, so we've got to pick up where we left off. I want to play well and end up with a victory."
Nicks could own most of North Carolina's significant receiving records if he plays one more season. He said he would have no trouble waiting on the NFL for another year, because he figures that he can always improve his skills.
"If I was to come back for my senior year, I would pretty much look for a winning season," Nicks said. "We've got a good group of young guys coming in. I'd like to continue in being a leader to the program."
■ Bill Cole can be reached at bcole@wsjournal.com.
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