Hart Lee Dykes
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| Position: | Wide receiver | ||||||||
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| Born: | September 2, 1966 Bay City, Texas | ||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 218 lb (99 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| College: | Oklahoma State | ||||||||
| NFL draft: | 1989 / round: 1 / pick: 16 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
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Hart Lee Dykes (born September 2, 1966) is a former professional American football player who played wide receiver for two seasons in the National Football League (NFL) for the New England Patriots. He was awarded the Dial Award as the national high school scholar-athlete of the year in 1984. He played two seasons, with his career being cut short when he fractured his kneecap [1] and because of an eye injury which occurred during a bar room fight with teammate Irving Fryar in 1990.[2] He was also drafted into the Chicago White Sox minor league system in 1989.[3] As of 2002[update], Dykes was the owner of a trucking company in Sugar Land, Texas.[4]
He is perhaps best remembered for his involvement in NCAA recruiting corruption. Voluntarily dealing with an investigation, he was eventually granted immunity and detailed a bidding war that went on for his services between Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Illinois and Oklahoma State (all of whom ended up on probation). OSU paid him at least $23,000.[5] Once he finally got to OSU, he was a member of a talented offense with Mike Gundy at quarterback and Thurman Thomas and later, Barry Sanders at running back.
Dykes was selected in the first round (16th pick) of the 1989 NFL Draft In two seasons with the Patriots, Dykes caught 83 passes for 1,344 yards and seven touchdowns.[6]
Dykes is a major advocate for charities such as the Jimmy Fund and Autism Awareness.
He was the winner of the Pitch, Hit and Run competition as a 10-year-old. He was honored at the 1977 MLB All-Star Game.[citation needed]
Dykes played high school basketball with LaBradford Smith and the duo lead their high school, Bay City, to the 4A State Championship.