Artis Hicks life and biography

Artis Hicks (born November 28, 1978 in Jackson, Tennessee) is an American football guard for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League. He was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2002. He played college football at Memphis.

Hicks (6-4, 335) has played in 94 career games with 58 starts in an eight-year career with the Minnesota Vikings (2006-2009) and the Philadelphia Eagles (2002-05). Hicks, 31, played in a career-best 16 games with three starts for the Vikings in 2009 as they finished fourth in the NFL in total offense and advanced to the NFC Championship game. Overall, Hicks played in 56 games with 27 starts with the Vikings the past four seasons and was part of an offense that was fourth in the NFL in rushing.

HIGHLIGHTS

* Has played in 94 career games with 58 starts in an eight-year career with the Minnesota Vikings (2006-09) and the Philadelphia Eagles (2002-05).
* Has seen action at four different positions on the offensive line (left tackle, left guard, right guard and right tackle).
* Been a part of five division championships (Philadelphia 2002-04, Minnesota 2008-09).
* A member of the Vikings’ offensive line that paved the way for Pro Bowl running back Adrian Peterson to rush for three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons (2007-09), including a career-best 1,760 rushing yards on 363 carries (4.8 ypg) in 2008. Hicks also helped Vikings running back Chester Taylor to rush for a career-high 1,216 yards in 2006.
* Started at left guard in Super Bowl XXXIX against New England.

2009 (Vikings)
* Played in a career-best 16 games with starts three starts.
* Started at right tackle in Week Five at St. Louis (10/11), helping the Vikings amass 38 points.
* Started at right guard against the Bears (11/29) in Week 12, helping the offense reach a season-high 537 yards, which was the highest for a Vikings offense since 1998.
* Started at right guard at Arizona (12/6).
* Saw action on the FG and PAT teams in the divisional playoff matchup vs. Dallas (1/17).
* Spelled Steve Hutchinson at left guard and saw action on special teams at New Orleans (1/24) during the NFC Championship Game.

2008 (Vikings)
* Started six games at tackle.
* Opened the first four games at left tackle in place of suspended regular starter Bryant McKinnie.
* Started at right tackle at Jacksonville (11/23) and at Detroit (12/7).
* Helped Adrian Peterson rush for 100-plus yards in three of the six games he started and average 100.8 yards over those six contests.
* Paved the way for Peterson to set the Vikings single-season rushing record and become the first Vikings running back to lead the NFL in rushing with 1,760 yards.

2007 (Vikings)
* Saw action in 14 games including starts in the first four contests of the season at right guard.
* Helped Adrian Peterson rush for 103 yards vs. Atlanta (9/9), making Peterson the first rookie running back in franchise history to rush for over 100 yards in his first game.
* Helped the Vikings lead the NFL in rushing offense and paved the way for Peterson to win NFL Rookie of the Year Honors.

2006 (Vikings)
* Started 14 games, matching his career high.
* Paved the way for running back Chester Taylor to rush for 1,216 yards on the season.
* Started his first game as a Viking in the season opener at Washington (9/11).
* Opened the Week Two matchup vs. Carolina (9/17), helping Taylor rush for 113 yards, his first 100-yard performance as a Viking.
* Started vs. Detroit (10/8) and paved the way for Taylor to run for 123 yards.
* Started at Seattle (10/22) and helped Taylor set a franchise record with the longest run from scrimmage (95 yards) and total 169 rushing yards on the day.
* Started at Miami (11/19) but left the game in the second half with an ankle injury.
* Inactive for games vs. Arizona (11/26) and at Chicago (12/3) with an ankle injury.
* Returned to the starting lineup at Detroit (12/10) and helped block for running back Artose Pinner rush for 125 yards, which was the first 100-yard rushing game of his career.

2005 (Eagles)
* Started 14 games, 12 at left guard and the final two at left tackle.
* Started the first 10 games before a knee injury kept him out of games vs. Green Bay (11/27) and vs. Seattle (12/5).
* Replaced left tackle Todd Herremans after he suffered an injury at St. Louis (12/18) and started the remaining two games at the position.

2004 (Eagles)
* Started 13 games, all at left guard, helping the Eagles set a franchise record with 13 wins and win their first NFC Championship since 1980.
* Helped set a team record with 4,208 yards passing and score the third most points in team history (386).
* Started all three playoff games, including Super Bowl XXXIX against the New England Patriots.
* Started a left guard at St. Louis (12/27) in the place of Jermane Mayberry who moved to right guard to replace an injured Shawn Andrews.

2003 (Eagles)
* Became a starter for the first time in his career, opening four games on the season.
* Made first career start vs. NY Giants (11/16) at left guard.
* Started games vs. New Orleans (11/23) and at Carolina (11/30) at left guard.
* Opened at left tackle on Monday Night Football at Miami (12/15) in place of an injured Tra Thomas.
* Saw action in both playoff games.

2002 (Eagles)
* Earned a roster spot after signing with the Eagles as a college free agent.
* Was inactive for all regular season and playoff games.

COLLEGE

* Earned All-Conference USA honors twice and was also named a freshman All-American.
* Started 44 consecutive games during his career.
* Moved from guard as a freshman to tackle for his sophomore and junior seasons, before returning to guard for his senior campaign.

PERSONAL

* Played offensive and defensive line at Central Merry High in Jackson, Tenn.
* Also threw shot put and discuss on the track team.
* Is the only boy of seven children.
* Second cousin Sylvester Hicks played defensive end for the Kansas City Chiefs (1978-81).
* Made an appearance in the Campbell’s Chunky Soup commercial featuring Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb in 2004.
* Works closely with Memphis charity, “Angel”, that supports single mothers, a subject that is close to his heart because his mother was left alone with his siblings after his father passed away when he was young.
* Nephew Dalin was diagnosed with leukemia in June 2004, but has made a full recovery at St. Jude’s Hospital in Memphis.
* During the 2009 season, visited the Ronald McDonald House to pack and donate shoes boxes to send to needy children across the globe.
* Majored in business.
* He and wife Jaivona have two daughters, Rheagan and Rhian.
* A native of Jackson, Tenn.

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