Nik Bonitto

Last updated

Nik Bonitto
Nik Bonitto.png
Bonitto with the Sooners in 2021
No. 42 – Denver Broncos
Position: Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1999-09-26) September 26, 1999 (age 24)
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S.
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:240 lb (109 kg)
Career information
High school: St. Thomas Aquinas
(Fort Lauderdale, Florida)
College: Oklahoma (2018–2021)
NFL Draft: 2022  / Round: 2 / Pick: 64
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of 2023
Total tackles:44
Sacks:9.5
Forced fumbles:2
Pass deflections:2
Player stats at NFL.com  ·  PFR

Nikolas Bonitto (born September 26, 1999) is an American football linebacker for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Oklahoma.

Contents

Early years

Bonitto grew up in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and attended St. Thomas Aquinas High School. He was named an Under Armour All-American as a senior. [1] Bonitto was rated a four-star recruit and committed to play college football at Oklahoma over offers from Texas and Louisville. [2] He is of Cuban, Jamaican and Haitian descent. [3]

College career

Bonitto played in three games as a true freshman before using a redshirt on the season. [4] He became a starter at outside linebacker six games into his redshirt freshman season and finished the year with 43 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. [5] [6] [7] As a redshirt sophomore, he recorded 29 tackles with ten tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks and was named a second-team All-American by the Associated Press. [8] Bonitto repeated as a second-team All-Big 12 selection after finishing his redshirt junior season with 39 total tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 7 sacks and one forced fumble. Following the conclusion of the regular season, he announced his decision to forgo his redshirt senior season and enter the 2022 NFL draft as well as opt out of the 2021 Alamo Bowl. [9]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 3 in
(1.91 m)		248 lb
(112 kg)		32+1⁄2 in
(0.83 m)		9+3⁄8 in
(0.24 m)		4.54 s1.53 s2.63 s4.23 s7.04 s35.5 in
(0.90 m)		10 ft 0 in
(3.05 m)		22 reps
All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day [10] [11] [12]

Bonitto was drafted by the Denver Broncos with the 64th pick in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft. [13] The Broncos used the selection previously obtained from the Los Angeles Rams in a trade for Von Miller.

After starting the 2023 season as a backup, Bonitto started over Randy Gregory in the Week 4 matchup against the Chicago Bears. He recorded 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble that led to a scoop and score by Jonathon Cooper in the game. Gregory was released soon after and Bonitto was named the starter.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeremy Beal</span> American gridiron football player (born 1987)

Jeremy Beal is a former American football defensive end who was a member of the Denver Broncos and the Saskatchewan Roughriders. He was once considered one of the top defensive end prospects for the 2011 NFL Draft, but was drafted in the 7th round by the Broncos. Beal played college football for the University of Oklahoma.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Randy Gregory</span> American football player (born 1992)

Randy Gregory is an American football defensive end for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers, and was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shane Ray</span> American gridiron football player (born 1993)

Shane Michael Ray is an American football linebacker who is a free agent. Before winning both a Super Bowl and a Grey Cup as a professional, he played college football at Missouri, where he was recognized as a unanimous All-American, and was selected by the Denver Broncos in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geneo Grissom</span> American football player (born 1992)

Geneo Grissom is a former American football defensive end. He played college football at the University of Oklahoma. He was selected by the New England Patriots in the third round with the 97th overall pick of the 2015 NFL Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Josey Jewell</span> American football player (born 1994)

Josey Jewell is an American football linebacker for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Iowa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Justin Hollins</span> American football player (born 1996)

Justin Hollins is an American football linebacker for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Oregon, and was selected by the Denver Broncos in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He has also played for the Los Angeles Rams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jonathan Kongbo</span> Zaire-born gridiron football player (born 1996)

Jonathan Kongbo III is a professional gridiron football defensive lineman for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was originally drafted by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the first round with the fifth overall pick in the 2019 CFL Draft. He played college football at Arizona Western and Tennessee.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kenneth Murray (American football)</span> American football player (born 1998)

Kenneth Rogers Murray Jr. is an American football linebacker for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Oklahoma and was drafted by the Chargers in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Neville Gallimore is a Canadian American football defensive tackle for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Oklahoma.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Creed Humphrey</span> American football player (born 1999)

Creed Humphrey is an American football center for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Oklahoma, where he was named the Big 12 Conference's offensive lineman of the year in 2019 and 2020. He was drafted by the Chiefs in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft.

Marvin Mims Jr. is an American football wide receiver for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Oklahoma.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baron Browning</span> American football player (born 1999)

Baron Browning is an American football linebacker for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Ohio State.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zaven Collins</span> American football player (born 1999)

Zaven Collins is an American football linebacker for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Tulsa, where he was named a unanimous All-American and won several defensive player of the year awards in 2020. Collins was selected by the Cardinals in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft.

Ronnie Perkins is an American football linebacker for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Oklahoma.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Perrion Winfrey</span> American football player (born 2000)

Perrion Winfrey is an American football defensive tackle who is a free agent. He played college football at Iowa Western and Oklahoma, and was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft.

Brian Asamoah II is an American football linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Oklahoma.

Christopher Allen is an American football linebacker who is a free agent. He played college football at Alabama.

Eyioma Uwazurike is an American football defensive end for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Iowa State.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drew Sanders</span> American football player (born 2001)

Drew Sanders is an American football linebacker for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Alabama, where he was a member of the team that won the 2021 College Football Playoff National Championship, before transferring to Arkansas in 2022. Sanders was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft, 67th overall pick.

Jalen Redmond is an American football defensive end for the Arlington Renegades of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football at Oklahoma.

References

  1. ↑ Furones, David (January 4, 2018). "St. Thomas' Nik Bonitto commits to Oklahoma, has already signed with the Sooners". Sun Sentinel . Retrieved May 27, 2023.
  2. ↑ Nathan, Alec (January 4, 2018). "4-Star DE Prospect Nik Bonitto Commits to Oklahoma over Louisville, Texas". Bleacher Report . Retrieved May 27, 2023.
  3. ↑ "'Baby Feet' Bonitto had good feeling about Broncos from earlier visit". KUSA.com. May 2, 2022.
  4. ↑ Palmateer, Tyler (October 21, 2019). "Nik Bonitto's growth key as OU deals with injury at outside linebacker". Norman Transcript . Retrieved May 27, 2023.
  5. ↑ Helmer, Joey (September 9, 2020). "Bonitto enters fall ready to build on growth from last season". 247sports.com. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
  6. ↑ Kersey, Jason (December 27, 2019). "How Oklahoma finally made inroads at powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas, Joe Castiglione's prep alma mater". The Athletic . Retrieved May 27, 2023.
  7. ↑ Aber, Ryan (November 19, 2020). "OU football: Nik Bonitto's versatilty figures to be a big asset for Sooners in Bedlam". The Oklahoman . Retrieved May 27, 2023.
  8. ↑ Aber, Ryan (December 27, 2020). "AP All-America football team 2020: Tulsa's Zaven Collins makes first-team, OU's Nik Bonitto second-team". The Oklahoman . Retrieved May 27, 2023.
  9. ↑ Coyle, R.J. (December 6, 2021). "Oklahoma LB Nik Bonitto opts out of Alamo Bowl, declares for NFL draft". The Dallas Morning News . Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  10. ↑ "Nik Bonitto Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  11. ↑ "NFL Combine: Official measurements for every NFL Draft prospect in Indianapolis". theathletic.com. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  12. ↑ "Nik Bonitto, Oklahoma, OLB, 2022 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football". draftscout.com. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  13. ↑ DiLalla, Aric (April 29, 2022). "Broncos select OLB Nik Bonitto with 64th-overall pick". DenverBroncos.com. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.