Carl Nicks Scouting Report

Nicks is a very intriguing prospect, to say the least. He has the size, raw ability, and potential to be a first or second-round pick, but the questions that surround him could knock him out of the draft's first day. Nicks started his collegiate career as a defensive tackle at New Mexico St. before transferring to Hartnell Junior College, where he was a Juco All-American in 2005. He signed with Nebraska, and was mostly a backup in the 2006 season, then started in 2007, and was named an All-Big 12 second-team selection. Nicks has excellent size, strength, and quickness, and even though he's an extremely raw prospect, has a great deal of potential and upside, which is why he has been rated an early pick. However, Nicks recently ran afoul of the law when police busted a party in Lincoln and he was banned from participating in Nebraska's Pro Day, which says a lot, since Maurice Purify, who has had multiple criminal issues in the past, was still allowed to participate despite being one of the other players who got in trouble at the party. If there was ever a bad time to hurt your draft stock, it's a month or two before the draft and that's what Nicks has done. Instead of likely being a second-round draft pick, or maybe even a late first-rounder, Nicks will likely drop into the third (or even lower). However, if he focuses on his future and being the best player that he can be, he could be a starter very soon.