Avengers sign former UCLA standout Justin Hickman
January 4, 2008 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Los Angeles Avengers News Release
LOS ANGELES -- Justin Hickman, who was a consensus All-America selection during his collegiate career at UCLA, signed a one-year contract with the Los Angeles Avengers on Friday.
"We worked Justin out and really liked him," Avenger head coach Ed Hodgkiss said. "He's a great athlete and could play a couple positions for us, either defensive end or 'mack' linebacker."
Hickman (6-foot-2, 265 pounds) led the Pacific 10 Conference with 19 tackles for losses and 12.5 quarterback sacks as a senior in 2006, earning the Bruins' Red Sanders Award for most valuable defensive player and the Kenneth S. Washington Award for outstanding senior. Hickman also was a finalist for the Ted Hendricks National Defensive End of the Year Award.
In three seasons at UCLA, he racked up 95 tackles, including 31 for losses of 173 yards, and 19.5 sacks.
Hickman signed a free agent contract with the Washington Redskins following the 2007 NFL Draft, but was released prior to the start of the regular season.
Before transferring to UCLA, Hickman played football at Glendale (Ariz.) Community College. As a freshman in 2003, he finished with 60 tackles and 10 sacks, earning first-team Western States Football League honors.
While attending St. Mary's High School (Phoenix, Ariz.), Hickman was a member of the football and track & field teams. On the gridiron, he earned Desert Valley Region honors as both a defensive end and offensive guard.
Hickman's father, Donnie, played football at USC. He was an offensive guard for the Trojans from 1974-76 and was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the fifth round of the 1977 NFL Draft (130th overall selection).
This past season, the Avengers finished second in the Arena Football League's Western Division, compiling a 9-7 regular-season record before defeating the Utah Blaze, 64-42, at STAPLES Center to register the franchise's first postseason victory.
Avenger 2008 season tickets, which include nine games played at STAPLES Center, are on sale now at 1-888-AVENGERS or www.laavengers.com.
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