Teammates recall Hicks as ‘a dog on that football field’
Coaches and former teammates are remembering slain Calgary Stampeder Mylan Hicks as a player with raw talent, determination and a lot of heart.
Before joining the Calgary Stampeders in 2016, Hicks played four seasons with the Michigan State University Spartans and signed with the San Francisco 49ers in 2015, playing in one pre-season game with the 49ers.
Darien Harris was a fellow linebacker during Hicks’ senior year with the Spartans.
Harris said he remembers Hicks as a positive influence on those around him.
“The way he played the game, he played 100 miles an hour,” Harris said. “That was one of the things that made him stand out, and that’s why he got the opportunity his senior year to play a lot.”
“The last time I talked to Mylan was probably last week. He’s a guy you always wanted to stay in contact with, he’s a guy that always had your back and when he got that opportunity in San Francisco, it was tremendous.”
Stampeders defensive back Joshua Bell echoed Harris’ description of Hicks both on and off the field, describing him as a “little brother” with an eye for the game.
“I don’t know if this might be the right wording of it or if you’ll understand it, but Hicks was a dog on that football field,” Bell said Sunday of his fallen teammate.
“He was 100 per cent, 110. He was all about ‘push that button and go’ — it was either on or off.”
Harris said Hicks “had some special effect,” and recalls when Hicks won the Biggie Munn Award in 2014 for being MSU’s most inspirational player.
“You cherish that award because it has nothing to do with how you play on the field,” Harris said. “I mean, there wasn’t a more deserving person than Mylan to win that and he won it for a reason.”
Mark Dantonio was Hicks’ coach during his time with the Spartans. At a Detroit news conference on Sunday, Dantonio called the loss of Hicks “just tragic.”
“He went through everything with a great deal of excitement,” he said. “A very competitive person and just enjoyed playing football and being around our program.”
Stampeders quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell said he and Hicks had more of a professional relationship, but he valued Hicks’ work ethic and input on plays.
“Now you think back to seeing the guy smile — it’s a good feeling, but you know you lost a family member,” Mitchell said.