WVU's Wicks will carry heavy load

http://www.dailymail.com/news/Sports/2006071012/

Mickey Furfari
For the Daily Mail
Monday July 10, 2006

MORGANTOWN - Eric Wicks is the most experienced member of West Virginia University's reshaped secondary.

With 12 starts under his belt, the 6-foot-1, 205-pound senior strong safety from Pittsburgh is counted on to be a Mountaineer leader in 2006 by Coach Rich Rodriguez.

He already is among the veterans setting an example for younger players in the summer workouts. Those consist of various exercises designed and enforced by strength/conditioning director Mike Barwis and his staff.

Wicks was asked recently about the worst part of the summer workouts.

"I'd say conditioning," he said. "I mean it's one of the ?must' keys that we need. So, we work hard on it and get better at it.

"We all are working out hard, trying to get chemistry with the other guys while getting into condition. We just try to stay focused."

Wicks insisted that conditioning proves to be a tremendous tool once the season starts.

"It allows us to play great fourth quarters and that's what it is all about -- if you can play 60 minutes," he said. "You can't just play 40; you've got to play 60.

"I feel that way about all the work we do. And it all comes down to the point where we need it. By working as hard as we can, it will pay off."

Wicks ranked fifth among WVU tacklers last season with 61. He also had 6.5 tackles for loss, including three sacks. In addition, he forced four fumbles and recovered one. He also was credited with breaking up three passes.

Some may remember Wicks best, though, for intercepting a Syracuse pass and returning it 31 yards for WVU's first touchdown of last year's 11-1 season.

Obviously, a Nov. 16 visit to Pitt is a big game for a Steel City native, but Wicks is spending any spare time now watching videotape of last season's Marshall games.

WVU entertains the Thundering Herd in the season opener on Sept. 2 here Mountaineer Field.

"We won't take anyone lightly this year," Wicks said. "Last year we took Louisville a bit lightly, and almost got beat. So, we've got to come out strong and knock off the Thundering Herd. If they were to beat us, we'd have a little bit of a problem.

"We're watching some film from last year and trying to pick up some of Marshall's tendencies. I'm quite sure that they can play."

Contact Daily Mail contributor Mickey Furfari at mailto://mickeyfurfari@verizon.net