Arnold Mickens
{{Short description|American football player (1972–2022)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2022}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Arnold Mickens
| image =
| number = 27
| position = Running back
| birth_date = {{birth date|1972|10|12}}
| birth_place = Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2022|01|18|1972|10|12}}
| death_place = Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 11
| weight_lbs = 217
| high_school = Indianapolis (IN) Broad Ripple
| college = Indiana (1991–1993)
Butler (1994–1995)
| undraftedyear = 1996
| pastteams =
- Indianapolis Colts ({{NFL Year|1996}}–{{NFL Year|1997}})
| pfr = M/MickAr20
}}
Arnold Lee Mickens Jr. (October 12, 1972 – January 18, 2022) was an American professional football running back who played one season with the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Indiana University Bloomington and Butler University.
Early life
Arnold Lee Mickens Jr. was born on October 12, 1972, in Indianapolis, Indiana.{{cite web | url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/players/m/mick00630.html | title=Arnold Mickens | publisher=profootballarchives.com | accessdate=24 December 2024}} He attended Broad Ripple High School in Indianapolis. He was a linebacker and running back on the football team at Broad Ripple High, earning all-state honors.{{Cite web |last=VanTryon |first=Matthew |title=Arnold Mickens, Broad Ripple grad who took college football by storm at Butler, dies at 49 |url=https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/2022/01/20/arnold-mickens-butler-football-broad-ripple-colts-indianapolis-public-schools/6591183001/ |access-date=2022-06-23 |website=The Indianapolis Star |language=en-US}}
College career
Mickens was a member of the Indiana Hoosiers of the Indiana University Bloomington from 1991 to 1993 and a two-year letterman from 1992 to 1993. He redshirted the 1991 season, and played several positions on the scout team. He was converted to linebacker full-time in 1992 and started one game that year, recording 34 tackles and one sack. He garnered Big Ten all-academic team recognition in 1992. He played in seven games in 1993, posting four tackles.
Mickens then transferred to play for the Butler Bulldogs of Butler University, where he was a two-year letterman at running back from 1994 to 1995. He rushed for an NCAA Division I-AA record 2,255 yards in 1994.{{cite web | url=https://www.si.com/college/fcs/top-single-season-rushing-performances-in-fcs-football-history | title=Top Single-Season Rushing Performances In FCS Football History | publisher=si.com | date=May 15, 2024 | accessdate=24 December 2024 | author=Rosario, Timothy}} He rushed for over 200 yards in an NCAA Division I-AA record eight straight games in 1994 as well. Mickens also set NCA Division I-AA records in single-game rushing attempts with 56, most consecutive rushing attempts by the same player with 26, and career rushing yards per game with 190.7.{{cite web | url=https://www.ncaa.com/news/football/article/2024-11-30/7-most-unbreakable-records-fcs-football-history#:~:text=Arnold%20Mickens'%208%20straight%20200%2Dyard%20rushing%20games%20%7C%201994&text=Among%20Mickens'%20FCS%20single%2Dseason,yards%20per%20game%20(190.7). | title=7 of the most unbreakable records in FCS football history | publisher=ncaa.com | date=November 30, 2024 | accessdate=24 December 2024 | author=Chiusano, Anthony}} He majored in public and corporate communications at Butler.{{cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1994/10/21/butlers-mickens-runs-on-his-terms/82b878e2-7e0f-4c4a-987f-13fa67b2fbc0/ | title=BUTLER'S MICKENS RUNS ON HIS TERMS | work=The Washington Post | date=October 20, 1994 | accessdate=24 December 2024 | author=Montieth, Mark}} He was inducted into Butler's athletics hall of fame in 2009.{{cite web | url=https://indianapolisrecorder.com/arnold-mickens-showed-patience-perseverance-through-storied-football-career/ | title=‘His calling was to love’: Arnold Mickens lives on in football record books and classrooms | publisher=indianapolisrecorder.com | date=January 21, 2022 | accessdate=24 December 2024 | author=Fenwick, Tyler}}
He was a member of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity.{{Cite web|title=XI SIGMA ALUMNI CHAPTER OF CENTRAL INDIANA OF PHI BETA SIGMA FRATERNITY INC. :: Indiana (US) :: OpenCorporates|url=https://opencorporates.com/companies/us_in/2008091800020|access-date=January 19, 2022|website=opencorporates.com}}
Professional career
After going undrafted in the 1996 NFL draft, Mickens signed with the Indianapolis Colts on April 26. He was released on August 28, signed to the team's practice squad on September 10, released again on September 23, and signed to the practice squad again on October 15. He was promoted to the active roster on October 18 and played in three games (primarily on special teams) for the Colts before being released on November 12.{{cite web | url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MickAr20/gamelog/1996/ | title=Arnold Mickens 1996 Game Log | publisher=pro-football-reference.com | accessdate=24 December 2024}} Mickens was signed to the practice squad the next day. He signed a futures contract with the Colts on January 6, 1997.{{cite web | url=https://www.prosportstransactions.com/football/Search/SearchResults.php?Player=Arnold+Mickens&Team=&BeginDate=&EndDate=&PlayerMovementChkBx=yes&submit=Search | title=Search Results | publisher=prosportstransactions.com | accessdate=24 December 2024}} He was released on July 18, 1997, after failing a physical.{{cite web | url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/transactions/m/mick00630.html | title=Arnold Mickens NFL Transactions | publisher=profootballarchives.com | accessdate=24 December 2024}} He was later waived on March 11, 1998.
Personal life
References
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mickens, Arnold}}
Category:Players of American football from Indianapolis
Category:American football running backs
Category:American football linebackers
Category:Indiana Hoosiers football players
Category:Butler Bulldogs football players
Category:Indianapolis Colts players