Eric Wicks Eric Wicks ( born on March 19 , 1985 in Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania ) is an American football safety who is currently a free agent . He was signed by the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 2008 . He played college football at West Virginia . Early years . Wicks played high school football at Perry Academy . Wicks earned player of the year honors as a senior and earned first - team and all - state honors . As well as totaling 643 yards on 22 reception s for 16 touchdown s . In his career , Wicks totaled four punt return s for scores and 22 interceptions . College career . Wicks enrolled at West Virginia University in 2003 . Wicks played backup spur safety in 2004 as a redshirt freshman . Wicks recorded 14 tackles for the season and a 34 - yard interception returned for a touchdown against Virginia Tech . Wicks also earned three tackles in the win against Temple University . As a redshirt sophomore in 2005 , Wicks played backup to all - conference safeties Mike Lorello and Jahmile Addae . Even though playing backup , Wicks earned second - team all - Big East honors . Wicks totaled 61 tackles for the year and scored West Virginia ' s first score of the year : a 31 - yard interception return against Syracuse University , also totaled four tackles and a sack against the Orange . Wicks forced a Wofford fumble and an eight - yard sack . Wicks forced a Maryland fumble , seven tackles against East Carolina University , eight tackles against Virginia Tech , and nine tackles against Louisville . Wicks also won the game for West Virginia against Louisville , by tackling Louisville quarterback Brian Brohm on the two - point conversion in the 3rd overtime . Wicks was the leading tackler against Cincinnati and forced a fumble . Wicks ended the regular season with a key 4th quarter interception against the South Florida Bulls . Wicks recorded three tackles and recovered a fumble against the Georgia Bulldogs in the Sugar Bowl win . Wicks earned the Coaches Contribution Award , Defensive MVP against Syracuse and Cincinnati , and Big East honor roll against Syracuse . At the beginning of the 2006 season , Eric Wicks and fellow - Mountaineer ( as well as fellow Pittsburgh Metro player ) Kevin " Boo " McLee made the Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list . Although neither Wicks nor McLee won the award , both had stellar years . Wicks totaled 67 tackles and a team second - best three interceptions , to Quinton Andrews ' four . Wicks ' interceptions came to Eastern Washington , Mississippi State , and USF . Eric Wicks ' interception against Mississippi State came in the endzone to save a touchdown . Against ECU , Wicks led the team with eight tackles , then eight tackles against Syracuse . In the Gator Bowl against Georgia Tech , Wicks recorded 5 tackles . Wicks was also named to the first - team all - Big East squad at the end of the season . In the preseason of 2007 , Wicks was selected as the # 7 safety in the nation by Lindy ' s , was a second - team All - American selection , and was a preseason first - team all - Big East selection . He was also selected on the Jim Thorpe Award watchlist and Lott Trophy watchlist for defensive backs and defensive players , respectively . Against Marshall in the in - state rivalry game , Wicks recorded eight tackles as the Mountaineers won 48 - 23 . In the third game of the season against Maryland , Wicks has two interceptions in the first half of the ballgame . Against ECU in the next game , Wicks recorded six tackles and a sack in the 48 - 7 win . In the 21 - 13 loss to USF , Wicks had five tackles , a pass deflection , and a fumble recovery . Against Mississippi State , Wicks had four tackles and a sack . In the Mountaineers ' dramatic 38 - 31 win over Louisville , Wicks had possibly the greatest game of his career . He had a fumble recovery after John Holmes hit quarterback Brian Brohm , knocking the ball loose , that he took 44 yards for a touchdown . Then in the fourth quarter , Wicks had a diving interception that was key in the final six minutes of the game . Wicks ' performance in the Louisville win earned his Big East Defensive Player of the Week honors . In the 66 - 21 victory over # 20 Connecticut to clinch the Big East title , Wicks recorded 4 tackles and two pass deflections . At the end of the regular season , Wicks earned the team ' s Coaches Contribution Award . In Wick ' s final collegiate game , the 48 - 28 victory over Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl , Wicks had two tackles and two pass deflections . Wicks totaled 45 tackles on the season and three interceptions , and also a fumble return for a touchdown . Eric Wicks finished his collegiate career with 187 career tackles and 9 interceptions . Professional career . Pre - draft . After the 2007 season , Wicks graduated and entered the 2008 NFL Draft . He was not invited to the NFL Scouting Combine , though he did work out at the university ' s Pro Day on March 13 , 2008 . Wicks went undrafted in the NFL Draft , becoming an undrafted free agent . Seattle Seahawks . Wicks was signed by the Seattle Seahawks after being undrafted in the 2008 NFL Draft . He was placed on injured reserve on August 14 and released with an injury settlement four days later .