Hicks Gets Help in Heisman Campaign

The Heisman Trophy push for Skip Hicks at UCLA has begun, subtly, with the weekly publicity release detailing his exploits amended from “Doak Walker Award and All-American Candidate” to “Heisman Trophy, Doak Walker Award and All-American Candidate.”

Taking note are the people without whom Hicks would have been unable to score any of the 13 touchdowns he has in four games.

“I’ve heard some things,” said Chad Overhauser, the Bruin left tackle and offensive line leader, on Tuesday. “I think we would take pride if Skip was to be considered for the Heisman Trophy at all. With the amount of yards he’s had in the past few games and the amount of touchdowns he’s scored in his career, we would take pride in that it would reflect on us somewhat if he were to be considered the best player in football.”

Hicks and the linemen have a relationship, helping each other.

“He tells us what he’s seeing, and we tell him what we’re seeing,” Overhauser said. “We basically try to give him a crack and let him go on through it.”

Hicks’ campaign is being built more on his scoring exploits than on his yardage. He has 484 yards in 93 carries and has caught 11 passes for 187 yards.

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Ryan Neufeld, who suffered a hamstring injury in preseason and aggravated it against Texas, is running plays again at tight end. . . . Tight end Gabe Crecion is struggling with a swollen knee and might not be able to play against Houston.

NEXT UP FOR UCLA

Who: Houston

Where: Rose Bowl

When: Saturday, 3:30 p.m.

TV: Fox Sports West 2

Radio: AM 1150