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{{Short description|American football player (born 1985)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name          = Eric Wicks
| image         = Eric Wicks.jpg
| image_size    = 250px
| caption       = Eric Wicks before the 2007 [[Mississippi State]] game
| number        = 4
| position      = [[Safety (American football position)|Safety]]
| birth_date    = {{Birth date and age|1985|3|19}}
| birth_place   = [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]], U.S.
| height_ft     = 6
| height_in     = 1
| weight_lbs    = 210
| college       = [[West Virginia Mountaineers football|West Virginia]]
| undraftedyear = 2008
| pastteams     =
* [[Seattle Seahawks]] ({{NFL Year|2008}})*
* [[Wheeling Wildcats]] ({{CIFL Year|2009}})
* [[Erie Explosion]] (2011)
}}
'''Eric Wicks''' (born March 19, 1985) is a former [[American football]] [[Safety (American football position)|safety]]. He was signed by the [[Seattle Seahawks]] as an [[undrafted free agent]] in 2008. He played [[college football]] at [[West Virginia Mountaineers football|West Virginia]].
==Early years==
Wicks played [[high school football]] at [[Perry Traditional Academy|Perry Academy]]. Wicks earned player of the year honors as a [[Twelfth grade|senior]] and earned first-team and all-state honors as well as totaling 643 yards on 22 [[Reception (American football)|reception]]s for 16 [[touchdown]]s. In his career, Wicks totaled four [[punt return]]s for scores and 22 [[interceptions]].
==College career==
Wicks enrolled at [[West Virginia University]] in 2003. Wicks played backup spur safety in 2004 as a [[Redshirt (college sports)|redshirt freshman]]. Wicks recorded 14 [[Tackle (football move)|tackles]] for the season and a 34-yard interception returned for a touchdown against [[2004 Virginia Tech Hokies football team|Virginia Tech]]. Wicks also earned three tackles in the win against [[Temple Owls football|Temple University]].
As a redshirt sophomore in 2005, Wicks played backup to all-conference safeties Mike Lorello and Jahmile Addae. Even though playing backup, Wicks earned second-team all-[[Big East Conference (1979–2013)|Big East]] honors. Wicks totaled 61 tackles for the year and scored West Virginia's first score of the year: a 31-yard interception return against [[Syracuse University]], also totaled four tackles and a [[Quarterback sack|sack]] against the Orange. Wicks forced a [[Wofford College|Wofford]] fumble and an eight-yard sack. Wicks forced a [[University of Maryland, College Park|Maryland]] [[fumble]], seven tackles against [[East Carolina University]], eight tackles against Virginia Tech, and nine tackles against [[University of Louisville|Louisville]]. Wicks also won the game for West Virginia against Louisville, by tackling Louisville [[quarterback]] [[Brian Brohm]] on the [[two-point conversion]] in the 3rd [[Overtime (sports)|overtime]]. Wicks was the leading tackler against [[University of Cincinnati|Cincinnati]] and forced a fumble. Wicks ended the regular season with a key 4th quarter interception against the [[South Florida Bulls football|South Florida Bulls]]. Wicks recorded three tackles and recovered a fumble against the [[Georgia Bulldogs]] in the [[Sugar Bowl]] win. Wicks earned the Coaches Contribution Award, Defensive MVP against Syracuse and Cincinnati, and Big East honor roll against Syracuse.
At the beginning of the 2006 season, Eric Wicks and fellow-Mountaineer (as well as fellow Pittsburgh Metro player) [[Kevin "Boo" McLee]] made the [[Bronko Nagurski Trophy]] watch list. Although neither Wicks nor McLee won the award, both had stellar years. Wicks totaled 67 tackles and a team second-best three interceptions, to [[Quinton Andrews]]' four. Wicks' interceptions came to [[Eastern Washington University|Eastern Washington]], [[Mississippi State Bulldogs football|Mississippi State]], and USF. Eric Wicks' interception against Mississippi State came in the [[endzone]] to save a touchdown. Against ECU, Wicks led the team with eight tackles, then eight tackles against Syracuse. In the [[Gator Bowl]] against [[2006 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team|Georgia Tech]], Wicks recorded 5 tackles. Wicks was also named to the first-team all-Big East squad at the end of the season.
In the preseason of 2007, Wicks was selected as the #7 safety in the nation by [[Lindy’s Sports|Lindy's]], was a second-team [[All-American]] selection, and was a preseason first-team all-Big East selection. He was also selected on the [[Jim Thorpe Award]] watchlist and [[Lott Trophy]] watchlist for defensive backs and defensive players, respectively. Against [[Marshall University|Marshall]] in the in-state rivalry game, Wicks recorded eight tackles as the Mountaineers won 48-23. In the third game of the season against [[University of Maryland, College Park|Maryland]], Wicks has two interceptions in the first half of the ballgame. Against ECU in the next game, Wicks recorded six tackles and a sack in the 48-7 win. In the 21-13 loss to USF, Wicks had five tackles, a pass deflection, and a fumble recovery. Against Mississippi State, Wicks had four tackles and a sack. In the Mountaineers' dramatic 38-31 win over Louisville, Wicks had possibly the greatest game of his career. He had a fumble recovery after John Holmes hit quarterback Brian Brohm, knocking the ball loose, that he took 44 yards for a touchdown. Then in the fourth quarter, Wicks had a diving interception that was key in the final six minutes of the game. Wicks' performance in the Louisville win earned his Big East Defensive Player of the Week honors. In the 66-21 victory over #20 [[Connecticut Huskies|Connecticut]] to clinch the Big East title, Wicks recorded 4 tackles and two pass deflections. At the end of the regular season, Wicks earned the team's Coaches Contribution Award. In Wick's final collegiate game, the 48-28 victory over [[Oklahoma Sooners|Oklahoma]] in the [[Fiesta Bowl]], Wicks had two tackles and two pass deflections. Wicks totaled 45 tackles on the season and three interceptions, and also a fumble return for a touchdown.
Eric Wicks finished his collegiate career with 187 career tackles, 9 interceptions and 3 Touchdowns.
==Professional career==
===Pre-draft===
After the 2007 season, Wicks graduated and entered the [[2008 NFL draft]]. He was not invited to the [[NFL Scouting Combine]], though he did work out at the West Virginia's Pro Day on March 13, 2008. Wicks went undrafted in the NFL Draft, becoming an [[undrafted free agent]].
===Seattle Seahawks===
Wicks was signed by the [[Seattle Seahawks]] after being undrafted in the [[2008 NFL draft]]. He was placed on [[injured reserve]] on August 14 and was released by the team with an injury settlement four days later.
==External links==
*[http://www.msnsportsnet.com/profile.cfm?id=100791 West Virginia Mountaineers bio]{{Dead link|date=September 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wicks, Eric}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1985 births]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:American football safeties]]
[[Category:West Virginia Mountaineers football players]]
[[Category:Seattle Seahawks players]]
[[Category:Wheeling Wildcats players]]
[[Category:Erie Explosion players]]