Highsmith and Nicks have more in common than 88

Ken Medlin

Ken Medlin is a Bailey native whose WRAL reports range from the ACC to the Hurricanes to high school sports.

Highsmith and Nicks have more in common than 88

By Ken Medlin
Sep 20, 2009

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It's almost eerie to see Erik Highsmith catch passes for Carolina.

Wearing number 88, Highsmith not only looks like Hakeem Nicks on the field, he's playing like him. And fresh off a 6-catch, 113-yard performance against East Carolina, Highsmith is drawing the inevitable comparisons to Nicks.

For one, Highsmith is now Carolina's first true freshman to have a 100-yard receiving game since, well... Hakeem Nicks.

Like Nicks, Highsmith is a big target -- standing at 6'3. And like his predecessor, Highsmith seems to be a very sure-handed receiver, especially for a true freshman.

And then there's the number 88. Being handed Hakeem Nicks' number the year after he left would be a lot to shoulder for a lot of players, yet Highsmith is flourishing.

But for me, the most interesting comparison between these two players centers on their recruitment. Neither player was highly sought after in high school. Nicks was a relative unknown when he committed to UNC, and Highsmith was under most teams radar as well.

Both Rivals.com and Scout.com had Highsmith rated as a 2-star prospect. That's two stars out of a possible five. East Carolina, the nearest school to Highsmith's hometown of Vanceboro, didn't bother to offer him a scholarship.

But ESPN.com's recruiting analysis may have been a bit prophetic. “Could flourish once he concentrates on one position in college," the website said.

That seems to be the case, don't you think?

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RE: Highsmith and Nicks have more in common than 88

I hope Highsmith continues to play well and develops into a receiver of Nicks' quality. I like what I've seen so far. Adams actually held onto the ball for a 23 yard reception yesterday. Hopefully, the kids are starting to grow up.