It seems like soon-to-be redshirt senior Dadi Nicolas will put his NFL aspirations on hold for a year. Virginia Tech's second-team All-ACC (media and coaches) defensive end tweeted about his return to the Hokies next season.
Looking forward to coming back to school next year to accomplish all the goals I have set for myself and becoming the man God wants me to be— Dadi (@YYBAQB) December 26, 2014
& the team goals that my teammates and I desire to fulfill— Dadi (@YYBAQB) December 26, 2014
Dadi, who graduated in December, told media members earlier this month he would submit paperwork to the NFL Draft Advisory Board, but wouldn't consider declaring for the NFL Draft unless he received a first or second round grade. Both defensive coordinator Bud Foster and defensive line coach Charley Wiles thought the 6-4, 231 pound Nicolas could use another year of seasoning and offseason strength training to get bigger and strong before pursuing an NFL opportunity.
Foster's defense thrives when it has playmaking defensive ends (and corners). Virginia Tech is poised to return its top two ends (Dadi and Ken Ekanem) and all defenders that can play corner (Chuck Clark, Brandon Facyson, Kendall Fuller and Donovan Riley). Although defensive end depth is certainly a concern in 2015, the top two options are as good as any in the ACC.
Nicolas, the Hokies defensive freak, will try to improve on his 2014 mark of 63 total tackles, 9.0 sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss in 2015.
Comments
Biggest recruiting pickup of the year
And with our depth issues, he will get immediate playtime!
I'm hearing he could even be a starter from day ONE!1!1! #sources
The Christmas joy just keep comin!
I remembered how worried people were about him being an every down starter at the end of last season, so pumped he proved us wrong. Probably reading too much into this but id like to think something he saw from our team during bowl practices helped him come to this decision in addition to his draft inquiries.
Doesn't seem like he should be a senior already, but at the same time feels like he's always been here. This young man has been good for Virginia Tech in an all around, family sort of way.
Our defense won't see that much of a drop off next year, looking at who's returning.
Drop off? Should be better. Maddy + Facyson and solid fill ins at the FS, Rov and MIke spots. Maybe Buds best unit ever.
We will miss Jarrett and Bonner though. those guys have a lot of experience, and they learned everything they know the hard way. I hope the young guys are ready to step up.
They will miss Bonner and Jarrett in terms of setting coverage and making force/spill calls. That communication is critical. While I was not a fan of Bonner as a tackler, he was superior to most ACC free safeties as a cover man. Jarrett was improved significantly in coverage this year and minus that awful Pitt-Miami stretch, he was very good around the line of scrimmage.
That said, I really hope CJ Reavis wins the free safety spot. He has outstanding coverage ability and likes to lay the wood.
Lay the Wood..me likey!
I was as worried as anyone about his ability to turn into an every-down DE.
My biggest concern was his technique after he got into the backfield, where his insane speed took him out of the play so often in previous years.
This past season showed he had learned from his mistakes, and the ability to throttle down a bit to make the change in direction needed to get after the talent he was facing on a weekly basis.
Even so, he had several plays this year that I'm sure he'd like back.
Next year, he & Ekanem could put up historic numbers, especially when you consider the quality interior linemen we have. Maddy coming back. Backups who gained a ton of quality experience this year and showed the ability to be difference makers while maintaining their assignments.
It could be a really special year on Defense next year, if the injury gods are satisfied with the offerings they got this year.
Wow- Now it's a Great Christmas!
I am so looking forward to him having a great bowl game!
I am kinda perplexed regarding the depth comment. We should have more depth next year than this year. While we do not have 4 dynamic starting DE's, we do have serviceable backups who were Freshman this year and should improve next year. And with the DT depth we should have, CM should be able to moonlight at DE when required. Not a bad situation overall, and one that should allow for a very good D next year (assuming we get some good play out of our Safeties....)
Agreed. Not sure how we could have worst depth next year as we have everyone back plus the incoming freshmen. DT depth should be as good as we've ever had it that I can recall if Maddy is back. DE depth will be the two returning starters, two returning backups who wiles needs to do some serious work with this offseason or they could get passed by true freshmen or Melvin keihn if he stays there.
We should have more depth next year, but as it stands now it's as unproven / ineffective. Projected spring 2015 two-deep:
1. Dadi Nicolas (R-Sr.)
2. Dewayne Alford (R-Jr.)
1. Ken Ekanem (R-Jr.)
2. Seth Dooley (R-So.)
I believe Melvin Keihn is the only other scholarship DE on the roster in 2014. Unless Keihn gets bigger than 6-1, 209, I don't think he's a long term DE.
Wiles and Foster want to rotate DEs and DTs. Alford and Dooley didn't get near as much burn as Nicolas and Tyrell Wilson did when they were backups last season. Furthermore, I can't remember an impact play made by either Alford and Dooley. With the players currently on the roster we have 2 proven ends and Tech's a team that wants to play 4. We are very fortunate neither Ken nor Dadi got injured this year.
As it stands right now, this is the 2015 class with regards to DE:
Could push for playing time:
1. Trevon Hill
Project:
1. Houshun Gaines
2. Yosuah Nijman (may ultimately be a DT or OL)
Unknown:
1. Xavier Burke (Mentioned as a TE by Hokiesports.com, but is 6-4, 250 and if he has any sort of twitch / bend I bet he gets a look at DE this spring.)
2. Tremaine Edmunds (Recruited as a backer, but could grow into a DE. I believe he's a year younger than his 2015 peers, so he might be getting a redshirt like his brothers.)
Important to note that of the 2015 class, only Nijman and Burke are signed and set to enroll at Tech.
In conclusion, we have two All-ACC caliber DEs as starters and a bunch of unknowns, unsigneds and unprovens behind them. Depth is an issue.
Based on film, I'd be stunned if Burke isn't at DE.
I would put '15 commit Chris Cunningham in the unknown category as well since I think I read that he's going to get a look at DE and TE. He isn't huge, but he's listed as 6'3" 216 lbs so he's already bigger than Keihn at least.
2015 Defense
DE: Dadi
DT: Maddy
DT: Marshall
DE: Ekanmen
LB: VanDyke
LB: Motuapuaka
LB: Clarke
CB: Fuller
S: Fisher
S: Reavis
CB: Facyson
...I'm not saying, I'm just saying
Not sold on RVD getting the starting spot at whip. If he couldn't do it this year not sure what is holding him back. Chuck Clark will also be starting somewhere if it's not the other CB spot until Brandon is back it will be one of the safety spots. Don't think fisher will be starting anytime soon.
I think you're right about Fisher, but who knows? RVD is the most physically talented whip we've had in a while, but can he stay healthy and do everything Foster wants him to do? Guess we'll see this spring.
If Bud has his way, Clark will be starting at whip-nickel and will be on the field every snap. RVD is a backer now by all accounts, with McKinnon, Moss, and Minor all providing depth behind Motuapuaka and Clarke.
To me, the biggest mystery spot is at rover. Greene is smallish. Frye is coming off a major injury. Fisher is a complete mystery. Clark probably could play it, but that leaves Foster back in flux at his nickel whip (rotating Trimble and an extra corner.)
What about Riley?
Just wondering why Fisher is a complete mystery? He's one of our highest rated recruits in a while. What is the issue in your honest opinion?
He hasn't been lighting the field on fire during his redshirt year.
Is that an account of the practices or conjecture due him not seeing any pt this year (not sarcasm)? I really have wanted some background on Fisher as I had the hardest time figuring where we were to place his talent. the dude is like a tweedy- he may not fit any one position well enough but physically dude is too good to not make him work somewhere. Is he big enough for linebacker? agile enough to be a safety? Will his mind tie up his feet?
We shall find out, but, I guess patience is easier said than practiced....
His physical talent is never going to be an issue. It's the transition to college life and the fact that he recently became a father that are making it tough for him to get on the field. He's got some big-time adjustments to make, and not every kid can make that adjustment. We'll see if he starts getting things together this offseason.
I'm REALLY excited to see Motuapuaka getting all the first-team reps this spring and fall. I also really want to see VanDkye get/stay healthy and this could be the most athletic linebacking unit we've ever had in Blacksburg. I think Reavis is gonna make a push to take over one of the safety spots and perform really well there, but my biggest concern is probably FS. If we get that spot locked down (and that's a big if, considering what Gray's free safeties have to do), this could be a very good defense.
Holy jeez.
Somewhere, JT Barrett and several ACC QBs just asked for their brown pants.
Welcome back, Dadi. Next year's defense is going to be ferocious.
Thank you, Dadi, on coming back to Blacksburg for another year....looking forward to watching you help lead our team to an awesome ACC title year! It's in the cards, my friend!
With Marshall's speed and our depth at DT (Nigel was solid, Baron serviceable, and Walker had a bright future), any chance he plays both DT and end next season? Instant depth in two spots with his versatility
Unless there are unprecedented injuries or scheme changes, I don't think Marshall will play DE outside of the 30 package (like this season). When I interviewed Bud this summer, he smiled when he raved about Marshall's ceiling at DT. Then Marshall justified the excitement by having a stellar season at DT.
I about needed new shorts when I saw Marshall beat the snap to the QB against GT.
Nicolas, the Hokies defensive freak
We should recruit more of these.