Who, Dat???

 After a long agonizing 27 hour wait the Saints finally made their selection at the 89th pick. 

Akiem Hicks - DT - University of Regina

To most this is some unknown name from a university that you have never heard of ( including myself) but to us LSU fans; it rings a bell. 

After being recruited by LSU from Sacramento City College (Junior College) in 2008, Akiem found himself on the wrong side of an NCAA investigation. He was a recipient of improper benefits, a violations which caused former LSU assistant coach DJ McCarthy to resign and the university two scholarships in 2011. His eligibility was stripped and he never played a down for the purple and gold.

Unable to transfer to any NCAA football program, Hicks made  the decision to continue his education and enroll at the University of Regina; declining an offer to play for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. He declined another offer to play professional football when the Omaha Nighthawks of the United Football League drafted him during his second year at Regina.

In his second year at Regina, Hicks made 42 tackles and 6.5 sacks and was named the top lineman of the CWUAA ( Canada West Universities Athletic Association) but his stock really rose after the East-West Shrine game. Dane Brugler of NFLDraftScout.com said the following after the East-West Shrine game:

 "DT Akiem Hicks, Regina: At 6-feet-4 and 324 pounds with an 84" wingspan, Hicks made an enormous impression on scouts this week. He is unpolished and needs a lot of technique work, but he flashed his raw potential with good quickness and overall range. Hicks is a bit stiff and plays upright, but scouts aren't interested in the prospect he is now, but rather the player he could be down the road after a year or two with NFL coaching -- will be a late-round developmental defender.

As you can see Spags is assembling a D-line that can he play anywhere along the front 4. This pick speaks volumes for the amount of dedication our scouting staff have to find a raw gem like this one.

Lets hope he continues the tradition of our late draftees becoming NFL superstars.