He is nicknamed Boogie for his quick feet on the dance floor, but it’s his fast feet on the football field that are getting the job done for Lionel Hickenbottom.

“We started calling him Boogie last year because he’s a good dancer,” said good friend and fellow defensive back Randee Drew. “He knows how to move a little bit on the dance floor.”

As NIU’s starting safety, Hickenbottom has put his moves on Huskie opponents while making his name known on the stat sheet.

Playing in only six of NIU’s eight games this year due to a medial colatoral ligament tear, Hickenbottom still is only one of five Huskies to have caused a fumble, is tied for fourth with five pass deflections and in second place on the team with two interceptions.

But it was his 17-tackle performance against University of Illinois on Sept. 8 that put him in the record books. With 11 of those tackles being solo efforts, and two for losses.

With the 17 tackles, Hickenbottom matched NIU’s three-year, single-game high, which tied him with Jermaine Hampton, who is now with the Indianapolis Colts.

While Hickenbottom had to sit out his first year of college (last season as a Proposition 48) due to not making the required academic scores out of high school, his game against Illinois was only the second of his collegiate career.

“I was here last year with Jermaine Hampton and Buster Sampson, but personally I don’t think they were as quick as Boogie,” continued Drew. “His closing speed is incredible. I think it’s a hole, and all of a sudden it closes up fast and when he decides to come, he comes!”

One of the hardest hitters on the team with a 4.50 second 40-yard dash speed, Hickenbottom is not a dirty player, but he knows what he wants when he closes in on a player for the tackle.

“My intent is not to put them out of the game, but at least make him cough the ball up or make his helmet come off,” he said.

On the sidelines, Hickenbottom was unable to take any helmets off last year.

“I know it was tough for him to sit out last year,” said Drew. “I talked to him every day because we were good friends last year and all we used to talk about was how he can’t wait to get in there with me and Akil [Grant] (another sophomore defensive back). And we’ve got Vince [Thompson] leading us as the veteran, so that’s all he was talking about, just getting back there. He was real anxious.”

While Hickenbottom is technically classified as a sophomore this year, if he graduates in four years, he will regain his freshman year of eligibility.

Admitting it was hard on him last year, Hickenbottom says his love of football kept him focused. However, he says that the year not playing & only watching & helped him mentally prepare for when he was able to suit up for the first time in college.

“Now this year came up and everything just came to reality,” said Hickenbottom.

Starting the year off strong, on Sept. 29 against Toledo he incurred the MCL injury during the course of the game. Playing through the pain, he still finished out the game.

Never one to make excuses, Hickenbottom returned to action after two weeks of extensive rehabilitation, and is still in rehab, but says he is close to 100 percent.

“If I’m going to go out there and play, I’m going to go out and play. The knee problem is no excuse for me.”

Now, healthy again, Hickenbottom is ready to end the season on a positive note and boogie down.