New Orleans Saints Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis announced today that the club has agreed to terms with rookie DT Akiem Hickson a four-year contract, the Saints' first selection in the 2012 NFL Draft (third round, 89th overall).

The 6-5, 324 pound Hicks spent his final two years of college at the University of Regina (Sask.), where he was All-Canada selection as both a junior and a senior, playing both defensive end and defensive tackle. In the Fair Oaks, Calif. native's final two campaigns, he posted 76 tackles (43 solo), 13 tackles for a loss, eight sacks, four forced fumbles and four pass defenses. As a senior in 2011, he started all eight games he appeared in and recorded 42 tackles (29 solo), eight tackles for a loss, 6.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and three pass defenses.  He earned All-Canada West Universities Athletic Association and All-Canadian InterUniversity Sport honors.

Hicks first attended Sacramento City College from 2007-08, where he recorded 65 tackles (32 solo), 20.5 tackles for a loss, three sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, one interception and one pass defense, earning Junior College All-American honors as a sophomore.

Hicks attended Del Campo (Fair Oaks, Calif.) High School, where he played on both the offensive and defensive lines.  He earned All-Sac Joaquin section and All-Capital Football League honors his junior and senior years. He registered 52 tackles with two sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery his senior year.  As a junior, he recorded 48 tackles with four sacks.