NFL ranked the 15 best defensive players in college football and both Kendall Fuller and Dadi Nicolas made the cut: http://www.nfl.com/photoessays/0ap3000000493191.
11. Dadi Nicolas, DE, Virginia Tech
Size: 6-4, 236
Class: SeniorBuzz: Nicolas gave some thought to entering the NFL draft early, and as a fourth-year junior with an undergraduate degree already in hand, nobody could have blamed him. Instead, he's back to terrorize ACC quarterbacks one more time. Last year, Nicolas made 72 stops with 18.5 tackles for loss, nine sacks and an incredible 35 quarterback hurries. Expect him to finish more of those this fall. Beyond just rushing the passer, Nicolas has exceptional range as a tackler on the perimeter defending stretch plays. As a freshman in the Russell Athletic Bowl against Rutgers, he ran down a wide receiver from behind for a gain of 43.
7. Kendall Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech
Size: 6-0, 197
Class: JuniorBuzz: The younger brother of 2014 Chicago Bears first-round pick Kyle Fuller, Kendall is filling his sibling's shoes nicely as one of the top cornerbacks in college football for the Hokies. He broke up a team-high 15 passes last season with two interceptions, giving him 26 breakups and eight picks for his two-year career. He'll be the best man-to-man coverage cornerback in the ACC this season and has the size to handle bigger receivers.
Comments
Also should note that our Week 1 opponent has the #1 player on that list.
True, but Bosa is an animal. McGlock or Hansen will have their hands full and I expect that we will have a lot of 2 TE sets so that Malleck can help.
Bosa did have a sack, FF, fumble recover (on one play), but I remember being able to stay away from him most of the game, he was quiet from what I remember.
He also made an incredible play to stop Shai McKenzie from scoring on a toss play that very few others would be able to make.
From what I recall, we chipped him with Malleck and others pretty frequently, which helped a lot. Brewer was also able to avoid sacks by backing up and throwing to guys who were wide open when he was under pressure.
He also got completely decleated by Darius Redman on Rogers' long run, so there's that.
I did not realize that.
Whose ya Dadi? Kid is a beast, can't wait to see what he does this year and at the next level!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qY1BwmKZrEk
Dadi running down that defender. Not sure how to embed the video though. Anyone?
go to the video. Click the share link below and to the left. Then click the embed tab that pops up. Copy that into your post and voila.
Got it, thanks!
Oh hey captain obvious
Oh, Miiiiiles... I'm waiting...
Seriously, though...GREAT INK! I fully expect a guy like Shane to make hay with this nugget.
Cannot stop watching....
An interesting list of Defenders; I was thinking Maddy could be included in there, but its already a pretty stout bunch that already includes 2 Hokies.
Even though Bosa is #1, there is only one other Big10 player on the list. OSU could conceivably lose the opener AGAIN, blow away the rest of the Big10 and still get into the championship hunt.
It used to be you had to beat VT early to earn a title shot; It seems now even losing to us can be overlooked.
I don't think it as much losing to VT can be overlooked but that an early season loss has less of an impact than a late season loss. The argument that gets made is a team got better and thus is in the discussion since it may be one of the top 4 teams now, even if it lost early. Even a 1 - 2 matchup in the conference championship would make it tough for the loser to get into the CFP.
I think he was trying to make a joke referencing the success Alabama and USCw have had in the past, beating us on the way to a national title of their own.
Don't forget LSU (I wish I could).
Leg for Grease...
Sorry if I came across as touchy. It wasn't meant that way; my training in economics makes me think of the recency fallacy when ever someone mentions loss and their impact on making it to the championship game. Like the gif though...
Going down the list from 16-32 are Bucky Hodges and Luther Maddy .
This is good recognition for those players and VT in general for recruiting, but it is this type of info that may get some of these guys to leave early...
Dadi already had the chance to leave early and decided to come back.
As for Fuller, I don't think this list would really have anything to do with that decision, as everyone pretty much already knows about him and his skills.