New Orleans Saints: Akiem Hicks beat out Remi Ayodele for roster spot

The New Orleans Saints staff must like what they have seen since drafting Akiem Hicks in the 3rd round out of Regina University in Canada.

Fan favorite Remi Ayodele, added back to the New Orleans Saints roster after a season with the Minnesota Vikings, wasn’t so fortunate.  On Monday, he was among fifteen players cut in an effort to trim the team down to the NFL’s mandated 75 player maximum.

Though Brodrick Bunkley is number one on the depth chart, it’s sometimes good to take a look at the backups, especially at positions that will see significant snaps.  Akiem Hicks has no proven track record in the NFL, but we can go by what we do know from his college career.

Hicks started out at Sacramento City College, and was rated as a top JUCO defensive lineman.  Faced with the opportunity to transfer, Akiem jumped at the chance to join LSU.

Recruiting violations on the part of LSU made him ineligible to play during the 2009 season, and unable to transfer and play for anyone else.

After considering offers from the CFL, he moved to Canada to join the Regina Rams.  In his first season he was named a Canada West All-Star after recording 29 tackles with four tackles for loss.  He also had two forced fumbles and 1.5 sacks.

As a senior, Hicks was named First Team All-Canada, and set a Regina University record with 6.5 sacks.  His 35.5 tackles led the conference for defensive tackles.  After an impressive performance his senior year, one is left to wonder what life would have been like if he was able to play for LSU.