Redskins sign Hicks to three-year contract

Monday, July 13, 1998

Redskins sign Hicks to three-year contract

SIGNING: Washington staff impressed by former Bruin back’s
abilities

By Greg Lewis

Daily Bruin Staff

UCLA’s all-time career touchdown leader Skip Hicks has signed
with the Washington Redskins.

Last Tuesday the Washington Redskins, who traded up to get into
a position to pick Hicks at the 69th spot, inked him to a
three-year, $1,067,500 contract, including a $400,000 signing
bonus.

Hicks has been drawing rave reviews from the Washington coaching
staff during his early work at Redskin Park. Experts have noted
that he has displayed the combination of blazing speed and strength
that is necessary to become a successful running back in the
NFL.

The Redskins already have veteran running backs Stephen Davis
and Terry Allen on the roster. Allen, however, is injury prone, and
Davis quickly fell out of favor with the coaching staff last season
after not meeting expectations while replacing the injured
Allen.

Hicks kicked off his UCLA football career in 1993, winning
UCLA’s John Boncheff Jr. Memorial Trophy as Rookie of the Year
while also becoming the first true freshman to lead the team in
rushing (563 yards in only 100 carries) since 1972.

Hicks, a four-sport lettermen at Burkburnett High School in
Texas, injured his knee while long-jumping for the UCLA track team.
He spent the next year battling back from reconstructive knee
surgery and the year after that as a medical redshirt, appearing in
only three games.

Midway through the 1996 season, Hicks’ junior year, he was
already extending his own school record for touchdowns and ended
the year with a berth on the All-Pac-10 team.

Hicks was expected to have an exceptional season when he was the
top returning conference rusher his senior year. But few expected
the breakout season that Hicks had in 1997.

With consistent success at running back, Hicks routinely broke
three or more tackles for runs of 40 or more yards. The senior
always came up with a game-breaking play when necessary. A
memorable example was his 67-yard gallup up the sidelines vs.
Washington at the Rose Bowl.

Hicks led UCLA in rushing and finished the season as a first
team All-American. He piled up 1,142 yards rushing, including 140
yards in the Cotton Bowl victory over Texas A&M. He also
averaged just over five yards per carry.

Over his Bruin career, Hicks boasted an astounding 3,000 yards
and 55 touchdowns. His 26 touchdowns in the 12 games of his senior
season were not only good enough to lead the nation, but they also
allowed him to surpass Corey Dillon’s single season Pac-10 TD mark
of 24, and Russel White’s career record of 54.