2026 tennessee state athletics
Hall of Fame

Sylvester Hicks was one of the most dominant defensive linemen in Tennessee State football history, developing into a national standout during his career with the Tigers from 1973-77 under legendary head coach John Merritt. His breakout campaign in 1977 helped lead Tennessee State to an 8-1-1 record and a national ranking among the top defensive teams in the country, as the Tigers finished second nationally in total defense. Hicks recorded 44 tackles and five quarterback sacks while earning widespread All-America recognition from Pro Football Magazine, Pittsburgh Courier, Jet Magazine, Atlanta Daily World and Black Mutual Sports. He was also named Black Mutual Sports Defensive Player of the Year and received Tennessee State’s prestigious Henry Arthur Kean Memorial Award as the team’s outstanding defensive player. Hicks first earned All-America honors in 1976 from the Pittsburgh Courier, becoming one of the premier defensive players in Black college football. His outstanding collegiate career earned invitations to the Senior Bowl and Blue-Gray Classic, two of the nation’s top postseason all-star games. The Kansas City Chiefs selected Hicks in the second round of the 1978 NFL Draft, and he went on to play four seasons in the National Football League.