The Bills made a promotion and a pair of additions in their personnel department Tuesday with Senior College Scout Dennis Hickey named Senior National Scout. The team also announced the hiring of A.J. Highsmith and Mike Szabo as area scouts.
Hickey, who has been with the Bills organization the past three years, is an experienced talent evaluator. A former Director of College Scouting and Director of Player Personnel (Tampa Bay) and former GM of the Miami Dolphins, the 15-year scouting veteran has been an integral part of Buffalo's personnel building process.
Highsmith spent the last five years serving in the personnel department for the San Francisco 49ers, with the last three as a pro personnel scout. He assisted the pro scouting department in their evaluation of NFL talent and also coordinated player tryouts and visits to the 49ers facility. During the offseason, he assists in evaluating the team's roster prior to free agency.
Highsmith played his college ball at the University of Miami and is the son of former NFL running back Alonzo Highsmith, who is currently the Vice President of Football Operations for the Cleveland Browns.
Szabo is a scouting veteran of 19 years. The last 17 of those years came with the Carolina Panthers organization, where he most recently served as a regional director of college scouting. Szabo's region was the East as he worked closely with the Director of College Scouting and managed communication with area scouts on draft prospects.
Szabo is also the son of long time college and NFL coach Steve Szabo, who coached Buffalo's defensive backs under head coach Mike Mularkey from 2004-2005.
