Tim Settle Announces Intention to Declare for the NFL Draft

Former blue-chip defensive tackle opts to forgo a fourth season with the Hokies.

Tim Settle (No. 4) celebrates a tackle in the 2017 matchup between Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech. [Cory Hancock]

Virginia Tech will be without the services of once of its most talented defensive linemen defenders players next season. Defensive tackle Tim Settle will test the waters in the upcoming NFL Draft, eschewing a fourth season with the Hokies.

As a redshirt sophomore, Settle started all 13 games for the Hokies in 2017. He accumulated 12.5 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks punctuated by his patented penguin dance.

Via Pro Football Focus, Settle also led Tech with 27 quarterback pressures.

A massive space-eater, Settle led the Hokies in QB pressures from his interior defensive tackle position. He was a menace in run defense as well, recording 23 total defensive stops. On the season, he's accumulated five sacks, four QB hits and 19 QB hurries giving him 27 total, which was 18th-most among all FBS defensive tackles.

Even though he didn't settle into a starter's role until his third season, the 6-3, 335 pounder caught the attention of pundits and coaches early on during his career.

"I said 'it'd probably be amazing if we can just get you down under 300,' because he's got the lightest feet of any 340 pound guy you'll ever see in your life," Frank Beamer said of the former blue-chip recruit ahead of his redshirt season in 2015. "He's easy."

Pro Football Focus identified Settle's next-level pass rush potential following his 2016 campaign as a reserve in the two-deep.

Coming off his first active season at the collegiate level, Virginia Tech defensive tackle Tim Settle took the ACC by storm despite playing within a limited role. Totaling 18 pressures on 131 pass-rush snaps, Settle ranked No. 10 among draft-eligible interior defenders in pass-rush productivity (10.3).

A former five-star recruit, Settle excelled at applying quick interior pressure, as he ranked No. 10 among that same group of interior defenders in pass-rush productivity on dropbacks of 2.5 seconds or less.

It's a bit of a top-heavy field at defensive tackle. At the time of publish, CBS ranks 10 DTs in the top 93 draft prospects. However, behind a rare combination of size, power, quickness, and explosiveness, Settle will certainly have the opportunity to wow NFL general managers.

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His decision was made after a phone call with longtime Virginia Tech assistant coach Bud Foster. All Foster told him was, "We win. They don't."

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His decision was made after a phone call with longtime Virginia Tech assistant coach Bud Foster. All Foster told him was, "We win. They don't."

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