Possessing the size and strength to be able to handle double teams along the defensive line, the club’s third round draft choice in 2012 will look to contribute to the Saints rotation and compete for playing time after an impressive rookie season where he appeared in 14 games and recorded 32 tackles, one pass defense and one forced fumble.
NFL CAREER – Possessing the size and strength to be able to handle double teams along the defensive line, the club’s third round draft choice in 2012 will look to contribute to the Saints rotation and compete for playing time after an impressive rookie season where he appeared in 14 games and recorded 32 tackles, one pass defense and one forced fumble.
CAREER TRANSACTIONS – Agreed to terms on a four-year contract, 6/28/12; Selected by the Saints in the third round (89th overall) of the 2012 NFL Draft.
2012–Played in 14 games at defensive tackle…Recorded 32 tackles, one pass defensed and one forced fumble…Recorded a season-high eight tackles (five solo) vs. Kansas City, Sept. 23…In most extensive action of season, recorded six tackles (four solo) and one forced fumble at Denver, Oct. 28.
COLLEGE – Started all 16 games from 2010-11 at Regina (Sask.) and totaled 76 tackles (43 solo), eight sacks, four forced fumbles and 13 tackles for a loss…Recorded 42 tackles (29 solo), eight tackles for a loss, 6.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and three passes defensed as he earned All-Canada West Universities Athletic Association and All-Canadian InterUniversity Sport honors as a senior…Earned All-Canada West All-Star as a junior, starting all eight games and totaling 34 tackles (14 solo) with 1.5 sacks, five tackles for a loss, two forced fumbles and one pass defense…Attended LSU in 2009 , but did not play. At Sacramento City College from 2007-08, where he was an All-American as a sophomore, posted career totals in 17 games of 65 tackles (32 solo)…Majored in business marketing.
PERSONAL – Attended Del Campo (Fair Oaks, Calif.) HS where he played on both the offensive and defensive lines…Earned All-Sac Joaquin section and All-Capital Football League honors as a senior and junior…As a senior, registered 52 tackles with two sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery…As a junior, recorded 48 tackles with four quarterback takedowns…Participated in Rebuilding Together’s “Kickoff to Rebuild” event prior to Super Bowl XLVII in Algiers, where he assisted in painting the front of several renovated and rehabilitated houses for local residents and served as a celebrity judge for a barbeque competition…Visited children patients in the pediatric unit at Ochsner Medical Center and adults receiving chemotherapy at the facility’s Tom and Gayle Benson Cancer Center over the Christmas holidays…Born Akiem Jamar Hicks on Nov. 16, 1989.
