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UC's Mickens working his way back to dominance

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By Carlos "Big C" Holmes, Staff Writer Updated 4:11 PM Friday, April 3, 2009

University of Cincinnati and former Wayne High School defensive back Mike Mickens was considered by NFL scouts as a Top 5 cornerback prospect entering this year's draft. However, a lingering knee injury sustained midway through the 2008 season has caused the player's stock to dip and he is now fighting to get back on top.

Mickens, a three time All-BIG EAST defender, had surgery in November to repair torn cartilage in his left knee, but was back on the playing field a little more than a month later for the team's Orange Bowl game.

Mickens showed his competitive nature by returning to the field, but admittedly rushed back to soon.

"I came back too fast," he said. "I just wanted to play with my teammates and my last game as a Bearcat. Unfortunately, the knee blew up on me after the game and I tried to rush back for the Senior Bowl but it wasn't right."

The cornerback accepted an invite to play in the top college All-Star event, but that experience was short-lived. After one day of practice at the Senior Bowl the ailing knee swelled up and the player was sent home. Trainers say that Mickens' knee was about 70 percent, if that, while in Mobile.

Once Mickens arrived home he turned to one of the best and well respected trainers in the business, Clif Marshall, Performance Director of Ignitions Athletics Group, to rehab the injury. Now the player is being put through a rigorous workout to prepare for his school's Pro Day.

"I feel like Mickens is in great hands and in the best facility in the nation," Marshall said. "He is working truly with one of the best physical therapists in the nation in Bob Mangine. So with the combination of the Ignitions strength training and speed program with Mangine there's no reason to believe that Mickens won't make a full recovery."

Mangine is responsible for rehabbing Bengals star quarterback Carson Palmer back to health after sustaining a devastating knee injury.

Marshall said that Mickens is back in the weight room and on a high calorie, high protein and high carbohydrate diet that will allow him to get his weight up to where NFL teams want to see him.

Mickens weighed in at 184 pounds on Saturday at the Combine, up from the 176 he weighed in Mobile, Ala. Not being able to work out caused the drop in weight.

Marshall went on to say that Mickens is working on getting back his acceleration and explosion off the snap, which is critical for the cornerback position.

Although Mickens will be unable to perform in Indy because he is still rehabbing the knee injury, he wants to show teams that he has put on weight and has been working out. The cornerback interviewed with the World Champion Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday night at the Combine and the team was said to be impressed with the player's moxie.

With draft status suffering, there is still no regret for returning too soon.

"I have no regrets," Mickens said. "I love to play football and anytime I can get the opportunity to play I'll play. Doesn't matter where or who it's against, I love the game of football and will do anything to be out there on the field."

Carlos "Big C" Holmes covers the NFL for the Dayton Daily News.

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