Mike Mickens

From NCAA College Football Information & Resource

Mike Mickens

Profile
College	University of Cincinnati
Position	CB
Jersey No.	21
Class	Senior
Career	2005 – present
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight	170 lbs (77.1 kg)
Nationality	American
B-date	July 24, 1987
B-place
High School	Wayne High School
Career Highlights
Awards
2007 FWAA All-American 2007 All-Big East First Team 2005-06 All-Big East Second Team
Championships
none
Bowl Games
2007 Papajohns.com Bowl 2007 International Bowl

Mike Mickens (born Michael Craig Mickens on July 24, 1987) plays cornerback for the University of Cincinnati Bearcats in the NCAA college football tournament. Eversince arriving in Cincinnati in 2005, Mickens has become a mainstay at the starting defensive back position and went on to claim All-American honors in 2007 when he was a junior, all the while helping the Bearcats' defense lead the nation in takeaways (42) and interceptions (26). Despite an already jacked up resume enough to earn him a spot in the 2008 NFL Draft, Mickens decided to stay in Cincy for his final year of eligibility as the Bearcats look to improve in their 2007 breakout year which saw the program make its debut in the final national rankings.

1 Personal Life
2 High School
3 College
- 3.1 2005
- 3.2 2006
- 3.3 2007
- 3.4 2008
4 Achievements
5 References

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Personal Life

Michael Craig is one of Marsha Mickens' four children, along with two brothers and a sister. Outside of football, Mike likes to bowl, skate, play video games, and watch movies during his spare time. He majored in Criminal Justice at the University of Cincinnati.

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High School

Mickens attended Huber Heights Wayne High School in Huber Heights, Ohio where he was a two-sport athlete competing in both football and track and served as a freshman mentor for his high school. As a sophomore, he played a role in Wayne's 3rd place finish at the 4x400 relay state finals and then went on to claim the state's 300 meter hurdles title as a junior. As a senior, Mickens also qualified 3rd and 1st in the 110 and 300 meter hurdles, respectively.

On the football field, Mickens played under head football coach Jay Minton and helped the Warriors post a 24-9 record, including two league championships in his three seasons with the football squad. The two-time all-Greater Western Ohio Conference cornerback registered career stats of 205 tackles and 10 interceptions along with four blocked field goals and a touchdown he scored off a kickoff return. He capped his high school career with an appearance at the Big 33 for Team Ohio where he teamed up with several other Bearcat recruits including Jared Martin, Derrick Stewart, Terrill Byrd, Steve Gawronski, and Brad Jones.

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College

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2005

As a true freshman, Mickens claimed the starting cornerback spot during preseason practice and immediately made his collagiate debut in the Bearcats' season opener against Eastern Michigan and tallied five tackles, including four solos in the 28-26 win. The following week, he came off the bench to register eight tackles, including 7 solos, in the 24-42 loss to the Nittany Lions. He also chipped in three tackles against Western Carolina, but had his first twin digit tackle game after establishing his career high at 11 tackles in the rivalry game loss to Miami (Ohio). His first tackle for loss was during a 20-38 loss to Pittsburgh while his first career interception took place in the 28-17 win over Connecticut, helping the Bearcats preserve their first ever Big East victory. He also chipped in seven stops against Louisville, then added four apiece in each of his last three appearances @ Syracuse, against West Virginia, and @ South Florida.

Mickens ended his rookie year as the team's sixth-leading tackler with 51 stops, was ranked second in the nation and first in the Big East in passes defended with 1.5 per game. He also received All-American honors from the Football News and The Sporting News, and was one of only two Bearcats in the All-Big East team.

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2006

During the spring game, Mickens produced a fumble recovery, four tackles, and a tackle for loss, helping the defense win over the offense, 76-39. He also received All-Big East preseason accolades from Phil Steele and The Sporting News.

Mickens opened the season with three tackles, 0.5 TFLs, 1 pass break up, and 1 QB hurry in the 31-0 shut-out victory over Eastern Kentucky. In the next three outings, he contributed 4 tackles a game in losses to Pitt, Ohio State, and Virginia Tech, with 3 pass break ups against the Panthers and 1 against the Hokies. After contributing 6 stops in the win that brought back the Victory Bell to Cincy, Mickens had 5 tackles and 2 pass break ups in the win against Akron, had a season high 9 stops in the loss to Louisville, chipped in 4 more including a TFL and his first and only sack of the year with 2 pass break ups in the win against South Florida, and 4 tackles and a pass break up in the victory against Syracuse. Against 10th ranked West Virginia, the Bearcats suffered loss number 5 as Mickens contributed 3 stops and a forced fumble. UC rebounded in a big way, toppling 7th ranked Rutgers with Mickens tallying 4 stops, breaking 4 passes, and intercepting 4 more. He also recorded 6 tackles including a TFL and 1 pass break up in the win @ UConn before ending the season with an interception and three stops in the International Bowl victory over Western Michigan.

Mickens concluded his sophomore campaign #2 in the Big East and #8 in the nation in passes defended (3 interceptions, 15 breakups) and 6th in the team in tackles (59). For the second straight year, he was recognized by the Big East with an All-Conference second team selection.

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2007

Mickens made his junior season debut against Southeast Missouri State and contributed 6 tackles and a season high 2 interceptions, one returned for a 45-yard score, in the 59-3 win. His two interception effort, a first since he achieved the feat the previous year against the 7th ranked Scarlet Knights, received a Big East Player of the Week accolades. In the win against Oregon State, he tallied 3 tackles and 1 for loss in the 34-3 win before contributing three more and a 9-yard interception return in the 47-10 triumph in the Victory Bell rivalry game against the Redhawks. He added another pick off to go with 7 stops and a pass break up in the 40-14 win over Marshall but was limited to a season low 1 stop in the 53-23 dismantling of San Diego State. In its first true test of the season, the Bearcats took on 21st ranked Rutgers on the road and for the second stright year, came out on top, 28-23, with Mickens chipping in 6 tackles and 1 pass break up. UC suffered its first loss of the season after being upset by Louisville in the Battle for the Keg of Nails as Mickens contributed 3 tackles, 1 pass break up and 1 QB hurry. He contributed a season high 9 tackles in the 18-24 upset loss to Pitt before rebounding with his second interception touchdown return of the season, this time for 79 yards, in the 38-33 victory over South Florida. He tallied two more stops in the 27-3 win over UConn, contributed 3 tackles and an interception in the 28-23 upset win over 5th ranked WVU, then added 4 stops and 2 pass break ups in the regular season finale win @ Syracuse. In his second postseason appearance, he tallied 4 stops as UC won the Papajohns.com Bowl over Southern Miss.

The Huber Heights, Ohio native claimed his first Big Ten First Team accolade after tallying a conference-leading six interceptions which was also good for 10th place in the nation. He also received the UC Brig Owens Award and was named to the Football Writers Association of American’s 64-th All-American Team.

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2008

Despite being heralded as one of the possible prospects in the 2008 NFL Draft, Mickens opt against turning pro and decided to stay with the Bearcats for another year. He was a prospected third round pick by the NFL's advisory committee.

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