Hakeem Nicks was one of the most prolific wide receivers in New York Giants history. After being selected with the 29th overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, Nicks teamed up with free agent Victor Cruz and Mario Manningham to create a formidable trio that helped the Giants win Super Bowl XLVI.
After an illustrious career at North Carolina, Nicks went on to catch 318 passes for 4,676 yards with 27 touchdowns. Nicks ranks ninth all-time in receiving yards and 10th in receptions on the Giants’ all-time list.
Nicks is now giving back to both the Giants and North Carolina as he reflects on his football career.
The wide receiver recently made a “sizable donation” to his alma matter to name the wide receiver meeting room in the Kenan Football Center in Chapel Hill.
“It’s always good to be able to give back if you’re in that position,” Nicks told Goheels.com. “I owe a lot to the University of North Carolina. They were the only school to offer me a scholarship. They gave me the opportunity, and that means a lot to me. They believed in me before anyone else did.
“They prepared me for life beyond Carolina, particularly going to a market like New York in the NFL. Things like having a presence, how to carry yourself, to be humble, to interact with the media. We had a seminar on dinner etiquette. There were so many things I faced that I was prepared for because of the University of North Carolina.”
Nicks’ niche on Tar Heel football is indelible as well. He currently ranks second in school history with 2,840 receiving yards with 21 touchdowns, and is third on the school’s all-time receptions list with 181.
