Hakeem Nicks is ready to try the NFL after three seasons of catching passes at North Carolina.
Nicks, one of the most prolific receivers in UNC history, will enter the NFL Draft in April and forego his senior season, deciding that his draft status is strong enough after talking to Coach Butch Davis.
After setting 14 school receiving records and catching eight passes for 217 yards and three touchdowns in the Meineke Car Care Bowl, Nicks believes that he has little else to accomplish at UNC.
"It was something that I just prayed about," he said. "I feel like I've had my best college game in the bowl game. I feel like I'm ready for a new challenge in my life."
Nicks had been thinking about entering the draft since the end of the regular season but said he didn't make his decision until after the bowl game Dec. 27. UNC lost that game 31-30 to West Virginia in Nicks' hometown of Charlotte.
Davis talked to NFL general managers, coaches and assistants to determine Nicks' draft status. The general opinion was that Nicks would be drafted at least in the second round.
Davis, who worked in the NFL for 10 seasons as a coach and an assistant, said that his role was to explain the dynamics of the situation and let Nicks decide. Davis said that he fully backs the decision.
"What I didn't want Hakeem to do was to make a decision based on fear tactics that there was going to be a league salary cap and a rookie salary cap," Davis said. "I wanted him to make it based on what was the best thing for him.
"I clearly think that most everybody feels pretty confident that he's probably going to have a great chance to be a first-day draft selection."
Nicks said he probably would have decided to return to UNC if he had been projected as a third- or fourth-round draft pick.
Nicks set the UNC record for receiving yards in a bowl game and also set school records this season for receiving yards (1,222) and receiving touchdowns (12) in a season. He also holds UNC career records for receptions (181), receiving yards (2,580) and touchdown receptions (21) and is the only UNC receiver who has had a 1,000-yard season.
"I feel like my contribution was very good, on the field and off it," Nicks said. "I feel like I left a good mark."
Nicks is unsure if he will participate in the NFL scouting combine, where prospects are evaluated. He said he is on schedule to receive his degree but that he probably would not take classes during the second semester so that he has time to prepare for the draft.
"I thought about it a lot," Nicks said. "It was just something that I had to pray about. I had to look at this situation as in what's better for me.
"I love being at Carolina, but I had to look at it as what was best for me in this situation."
Davis said he knows of no other underclassmen who are thinking of leaving the program.
■ Bill Cole can be reached at bcole@wsjournal.com.
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