Mike Mickens

Mike Mickens
No. 33, 20
Position: Cornerback
Personal information
Born: (1987-07-24) July 24, 1987
Huber Heights, Ohio
Height: 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight: 190 lb (86 kg)
Career information
High school: Huber Heights (OH) Wayne
College: Cincinnati
NFL Draft: 2009 / Round: 7 / Pick: 227
Career history
As player:
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
As coach:
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Player stats at NFL.com

Mike Mickens (born July 24, 1987) is a former American football cornerback in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Cincinnati Bengals. He played college football at the University of Cincinnati.

Early years

Mickens attended Wayne High School, where he helped his team to two league titles and a 24-9 record. He posted in his career 205 tackles, 10 interceptions, 4 blocked field goals and one kickoff returned for a touchdown. He received All-Greater Western Ohio Conference honors twice.

He also practiced track and field, winning the 300 metres hurdles state title as a junior and placing second on the 4 × 400 metres relay team at the state finals as a sophomore.

College career

Mickens accepted a football scholarship from the University of Cincinnati. As a freshman, he earned the starter right cornerback position during the preseason practices and went on to become an impact player, registering 51 tackles (sixth on the team), 15 passes defensed (second in the nation) and one interception.

The next year he was moved to left cornerback, collecting 59 tackles (sixth on the team), 15 passes defensed (eighth in the nation), 3 interceptions, one quarterback pressure, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

He received All-American honors as a junior, after recording 53 tackles, 6 interceptions (second in school history) and 12 passes defensed. He combined with fellow cornerback DeAngelo Smith to register a total of 14 interceptions, the most by a cornerback duo in college football in 2007.

Mickens elected to return to school for his senior season, but suffered a left knee injury during a practice on November 20, 2008.[1] He missed the last 3 regular season games and returned to play in the 2009 Orange Bowl, but struggled in the contest.[2] He finished the year with 11 starts, 70 tackles (second on the team), 10 passes defensed and 4 interceptions (tied for the team lead).

He left as the school's career leader in interceptions (14) and interception return yards (296). He started 46 out of 47 games, while registering 233 tackles (8 for loss), 48 passes defensed, one sack, one forced fumble and 2 fumble recoveries.

Professional career

Dallas Cowboys

Mickens was considered a possible first round talent, but ended up being selected in the seventh round (227th overall) of the 2009 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys. He dropped because of concerns about the left knee injury he suffered in college, that caused him to run 4.53 at his Pro Day.[3]

He was released before the start of the 2009 season, after showing a lack of speed and quickness. He was signed to the practice squad with the hope that he could return to his old form.[4]

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed him from the Dallas Cowboys practice squad on November 2, 2009.[5] He was declared inactive in three games, before being released on November 24.

Cincinnati Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals signed him to their practice squad on November 30, 2009. He was released on April 15, 2010.[6]

Calgary Stampeders

On May 27, 2010, Mickens signed with the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League.[7] He was released on June 9 and decided to retire because of injury.

Coaching career

In 2011, he was a defensive assistant at the University of Cincinnati. In 2012, he was a defensive assistant at Indiana State University. In 2013, he became the cornerbacks coach at the University of Idaho. In 2014, he moved on to Bowling Green State University to be the cornerbacks coach.[8] He was the cornerbacks coach at Bowling Green from 2014 to 2017. In December 2017, it was announced that he was joining Kent State as the team's secondary coach.[9] However, in January 2018, it was reported that he had returned to Cincinnati to coach cornerbacks.[10]

References

  1. ↑ "Knee surgery sidelines Bearcats corner Mickens". Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  2. ↑ "The Beast visits Cowboys rookie minicamp '09". Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  3. ↑ "NFL Draft profile". Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  4. ↑ "Now introducing the Cowboys' practice squad". Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  5. ↑ "Bucs sign CB Mickens off Cowboys practice squad". Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  6. ↑ "Brandon Johnson re-signed; Mickens waived". Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  7. ↑ "Calgary Stampeders sign defensive backs Mickens, Ronnie and linebacker Anders". Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  8. ↑ "Cornerbacks coach Mike Mickens leaving for Bowling Green". Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  9. ↑ Schmeltz, Thomas (December 28, 2017). "BGSU football assistant leaves for Kent State". sent-trib.com. Retrieved January 10, 2018.
  10. ↑ "Former UC star Mickens among additions to Fickell's Bearcats football staff". cincinnati.com. January 24, 2018. Retrieved January 26, 2018.
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