Outland Award Goes To Hicks Of Ohio State

OKLAHOMA CITY -- John Hicks, Ohio State's All-American offensive tackle and runner-up in the voting for the Heisman Trophy, has been named winner of the Outland Award. The trophy is awarded annually by the Football Writers Assn. to the nation's best guard or tackle. Hicks, one of two Ohio State players on the Writers' All-American team, finished in front of Oklahoma guard Lucious Selmon in the voting for the Outland Award. Hicks said it was the "greatest honor" he had ever received.

"It was something I've dreamed about all my life," he said. "It has been my goal to win it, but you never really think something like that can happen to you. "I tried not to put personal goals ahead of team goals this year, but the Outland was always in the back of my mind. It's the greatest honor I've ever received," Hicks said.

"I'm delighted to hear he has won the Outland Trophy. I know of no athlete since I've been at Ohio State who deserves it more than John Hicks. He is a great athlete, a great leader and an outstanding young citizen," said coach Woody Hayes. Hayes said Hicks, a 6-3, 258-pound senior from Cleveland, "is the best lineman I've ever coached."

[source: upi]