Bob Wicks

Wicks was born on July 24, 1950, in Pasadena, California.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WickBo20.htm|website=Pro Football Reference|access-date=June 7, 2025|title=Bob Wicks Stats}} He grew up competing in football, baseball, basketball, and track and field.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herald-journal/174056075/|newspaper=The Herald Journal|via=Newspapers.com|date=September 16, 1971|title=Utah State's Pseudo Twins|page=13|author=Mitchell, Ken}} {{Open access}} Starting in fourth grade and continuing through college, he was often teammates with quarterback John Strycula, who lived nearby. Wicks attended Royal Oak High School in Covina, California, where he played football as an end and safety.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-report/174054535/|newspaper=The Daily Report|via=Newspapers.com|date=November 25, 1967|page=5|title=Romo, Aleman Gain Dual All-Loop Honors}} {{Open access}} He was the first Royal Oak alumnus to play in the NFL.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/schools/high_schools.cgi?id=93c0b599|website=Pro Football Reference|access-date=June 7, 2025|title=Royal Oak (Covina, CA) Alumni Pro Stats}} He was All-Hacienda League as a junior and as a senior in 1967, he was named first-team all-league at both end and safety. In addition to football, he was also an all-league performer in basketball at Royal Oak. Wicks accepted a scholarship to play college football for the Utah State Aggies.{{Cite news|url=https://sunlakessplash.com/softball-player-profile-bob-wicks/|newspaper=Sun Lake Splash|title=Softball Player Profile: Bob Wicks|author=Wolfe, Larry|date=February 1, 2019}}

With the freshman team in 1968 at Utah State, Wicks played "anything and anywhere".{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/student-life/174057259/|newspaper=Student Life|via=Newspapers.com|date=November 23, 1970|page=7|title=Wicks blazing All-American path|author=Hansen, Greg}} {{Open access}} In addition to playing defensive back and as a backup tailback, he was also used as a return specialist, recording a 70-yard punt return touchdown against Snow College. He debuted for the varsity team in 1969 against Wichita State but suffered an injury that limited him for the rest of the season. Nevertheless, he was a starter at wide receiver and caught 19 passes for 272 yards, scoring two touchdowns in the season finale.

In 1970, Wicks helped Utah State compile a record of 5–5 while being among the nation's leading receivers and punt returners.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herald-journal/174058349/|newspaper=The Herald Journal|via=Newspapers.com|date=December 2, 1970|page=10|title=Aggies Set Several New Records}} {{Open access}} He caught 47 passes for 642 yards and had 16 punt returns for 279 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 17.4 yards per return. He then caught a team-leading 58 passes for 862 yards as a senior while Utah State compiled a record of 8–3. That year, he set the Utah State single-season record with 58 receptions, set the career record with 124 total receptions, and tied the school's single-game receptions record (13) while setting the single-game receiving yards record (211) against Idaho.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herald-journal/174059716/|newspaper=The Herald Journal|via=Newspapers.com|date=December 9, 1971|page=6|title=Bob Wicks Invited To Play In Senior Bowl}} {{Open access}} He scored a total of 10 touchdowns at Utah State and was invited to the Senior Bowl at the conclusion of his collegiate career.

Wicks was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the eighth round (188th overall) of the 1972 NFL draft.{{Cite web|url=https://profootballarchives.com/players/w/wick00800.html|website=Pro Football Archives|access-date=June 7, 2025|title=Bob Wicks Stats}} He signed his rookie contract in May 1972 and ended up making the team's final roster.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herald-journal/174059878/|newspaper=The Herald Journal|via=Newspapers.com|date=May 7, 1972|page=9|title=Bob Wicks Signs With Cardinals}} {{Open access}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/deseret-news/174059947/|newspaper=Deseret News|via=Newspapers.com|date=September 13, 1972|page=68|title=Cards Keep Ex-Ag Wicks}} {{Open access}} Wicks made his NFL debut in the Cardinals' Week 1 win over the Baltimore Colts and appeared in the team's first nine games, recording one catch for eight yards.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WickBo20/gamelog/|website=Pro Football Reference|access-date=June 8, 2025|title=Bob Wicks Career Game Log}} Following Week 9, he was sent to the Cardinals' taxi squad.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch/174099709/|newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|via=Newspapers.com|date=November 19, 1972|page=40|title=Hutchison Activated; 2000 Tickets On Sale}} {{Open access}} He was released by the Cardinals on September 5, 1973.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herald-journal/174099924/|newspaper=The Herald Journal|via=Newspapers.com|date=September 6, 1973|page=11|title=Sports Briefing}} {{Open access}} On October 31, 1973, he signed with the San Diego Chargers, though he was later released without playing in a game.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/deseret-news/174100129/|newspaper=Deseret News|via=Newspapers.com|date=November 1, 1973|page=65|title=Ex-Ag Wicks signs with San Diego|agency=United Press International}} {{Open access}}{{Cite web|url=https://profootballarchives.com/transactions/w/wick00800.html|website=Pro Football Archives|access-date=June 8, 2025|title=Bob Wicks Transactions}}

In 1974, Wicks signed with the Green Bay Packers. He made the final roster and appeared in the team's Week 1 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. He was mainly used on special teams for the Packers and then was released soon after his only game with the team.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herald-journal/174100624/|newspaper=The Herald Journal|via=Newspapers.com|date=October 1, 1974|page=7|title=Wicks Cut}} {{Open access}} In November, he signed with the New Orleans Saints.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herald-journal/174100724/|newspaper=The Herald Journal|via=Newspapers.com|date=November 19, 1974|page=6|title=Ex-Aggie Wicks Inked In NFL}} {{Open access}} He played for the Saints in the final five games of the season on special teams.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/mexico-ledger/174100927/|newspaper=Mexico Ledger|via=Newspapers.com|date=July 9, 1975|page=14|title=Sports Shorts}} {{Open access}} He announced his retirement from professional football in July 1975, finishing his career with 15 games played and one reception for eight yards.

With his wife, Kitty, Wicks had three sons and a daughter. Following his football career, he worked in Covina for a bus company before joining All Pack Company, Inc., a packaging business owned by his wife's parents. He worked for the business until his retirement and move to Arizona in 2015. He also competed in softball tournaments.

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Category:1950 births

Category:Living people

Category:Players of American football from Pasadena, California

Category:American football wide receivers

Category:Utah State Aggies football players

Category:St. Louis Cardinals (football) players

Category:New Orleans Saints players

Category:Green Bay Packers players

Category:20th-century American sportsmen