2022 WorldWide Rams Draft Profile: Nik Bonitto | Oklahoma | OLB

Worldwide rams

Ed "Pi Double I" Henderson

Player Bio: Nik Bonitto prepped at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, FL. He recorded 81 tackles (53 solo tackles), nine sacks, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery during his senior year. For his career, he recorded over 140 tackles, 26 ½ TFLs, 17.0 sacks, two interceptions, three fumble recoveries, and two forced fumbles. Bonitto had numerous schools given him offers, but he chose Oklahoma over Alabama, Auburn, and Ohio State.
​
ACCOLADES
2021 PFF Big XII Defensive Player of the Year  
2021 Bednarik Award Semifinalist 
2021 Sporting News Midseason All-American Second-Team 
2021 The Athletic Midseason All-American Second-Team
2021 Coaches All-Big XII Second-Team 
2021 AP All-Big XII Second-Team
2020 PFF First-Team All-American
2020 AP All-American Second-Team
2020 Academic All-Big XII Second-Team 

NIK BONITTO
OUTSIDE LINEBACKER
HOMETOWN                      |           CLASS
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL    |           JUNIOR (RS) 
​ 
DRAFT YR:  2021              COMBINE INVITE: YES

​HEIGHT                    WEIGHT                    ARMS
6' 3"                238 lbs            32 ½"

HANDS                   PROJECTED 40-TIME            DRAFT GRADE
9 ⅜"                         4.60                       6.33

SCHOOL:  OKLAHOMA                                 |                    CONFERENCE: BIG XII
​        
COMBINE RESULTS
40 YD DASH     |     BENCH PRESS     |     VERTICAL JUMP     |     BROAD JUMP     |     3 CONE DRILL     |     20 YD SHUTTLE    
​       4.54         |             DNP               |             35 ½"            |            120”          |              7.07            |              4.23
​
PRO DAY RESULTS
40 YD DASH     |     BENCH PRESS     |     VERTICAL JUMP     |     BROAD JUMP     |     3 CONE DRILL     |     20 YD SHUTTLE    
​       DNP         |              22                  |             DNP             |             DNP          |              7.07            |              DNP

GAME FILM
​#11 NIK BONNITO VS FLORIDA (2021 COTTON BOWL)

#11 NIK BONNITO HIGHLIGHTS

Strengths

• He is a very athletic, speedy, and destructive player. 
• He is destructive playing off the EDGE or as an outside linebacker.
• He uses his speed to explode off the EDGE to turn the corner on the perspective pass blocker.
• He has the tremendous sideline-to-sideline speed to chase down the run. 
• He can navigate through traffic and plays well in space with a tremendous pursuit of the ball.
• His pursuit is excellent; he makes plays to create stops in the backfield when he closes.
• He uses his hand well to disengage off blocks.
• Athleticism show in the passing game as he can cover the backs and tight ends.

Weaknesses 

• We have one of the tweeners, and there will be concerns about drafting him as an EDGE or an outside linebacker. 
• He has the talent and skill to play as an EDGE, but he is undersized. 
• As an NFL EDGE, he lacks the height, weight, and frame to be productive.
• His hand placement and usage can be of concern
• He needs to gain weight and strength to be an EDGE and be dominant against the run as teams run at him.
• He needs to get stronger and does not possess the speed to power to bull-rush pass blockers. 
• Will be susceptible in 4-3 defenses and only will be viable in 3-4 alignments as a designated pass rusher only.
• Candidate of being converted to a strong-safety

Draft Projection: 3rd - 5th Round

NFL Comparison: ​Marquis Haynes (Carolina Panthers)

RSS Feed