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CHAPEL HILL North Carolina receiver Hakeem Nicks told his offensive line during Friday's walk-through that he felt a career game coming on.
By following through with a game-breaking four touchdowns during the Tar Heels' 45-24 dismantling of No. 23 Boston College on Saturday, he can now feel his first career bowl game coming on, too.
Nicks' performance – combined with two interceptions by cornerback Kendric Burney, an interception return for a touchdown from safety Trimane Goddard, and a solid passing day from Cameron Sexton – secured the six wins necessary for postseason eligibility, something that North Carolina (6-2, 2-2 ACC) has only accomplished one other time since 2001.
With four games left in the regular season, securing a .500 record is far from enough for a team that scored the most points Saturday in two seasons under coach Butch Davis, and continues to lead the nation in interceptions (17).
But it still made Nicks flash his megawatt grin.
“This is my first time going to a bowl game, and wow, I'm looking forward to that,” he said.
It has been a long time coming for the sure-handed, strong-leaping junior. He never lost a game at Charlotte's Independence High, but has had to endure two losing seasons despite setting freshman school records for receptions (39) and receiving yards (660) in 2006, and the single-season record for receptions (74) last year.
Although Nicks was used to celebrating in high school, “when I came to college, I knew I wouldn't win every game, especially in the ACC, this being a tough conference,” he said. “But it was just a matter of me being a playmaker … to do everything I can to help this team win.”
He displayed that determination against the Eagles (5-2, 2-2), showing a facet of what makes him a focus of NFL scouts on each of his three second-quarter touchdowns:
Trailing 10-0 with 14 minutes, 20 seconds left in the first half, he wowed the crowd with his oversized hands when Sexton rolled right and Nicks hauled in a one-hand grab around the 10-yard line. From there, he shook off a tackle at the 2 and tiptoed into the front right corner of the end zone. Officials originally said he was out of bounds before he crossed the goal line, but the replay booth overturned the call. The 26-yard touchdown reception cut BC's lead to 10-7.
With 2:17 left in the half, Nicks showed off his defense-maddening speed. Three plays after Burney snagged his first interception of the game, Sexton found Nicks again – this time sprinting at least 4 yards ahead of three BC defenders – for a 40-yard touchdown pass. That gave the Tar Heels a 17-10 lead.
With 23 seconds left before halftime, Nick showed off his knack for adding yards after the catch. With the score tied 17-17, he caught a pass from Sexton at the 25, went left, cut right, and with the help of a block from Brooks Foster, sprinted the rest of the way for a 43-yard touchdown.
“They used him well,” said Boston College coach Jeff Jagodzinski, who watched Nicks burn his team's zone defense for 139 yards on eight catches.
