Oklahoma LB Nik Bonitto listed ‘most feared defensive players’ in college football
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Oklahoma football has a whole lot of expectations surrounding them heading into the 2021 season due in large part to the defensive talent now catching up to the offensive talent in Norman. One of the biggest names for the Sooners defensively is linebacker Nik Bonitto, who is looking to build on a fantastic 2020 season that saw him collect 33 total tackles and nine sacks in just ten games according to Sports Reference.
Because of his output a year ago and the projected display he will put on this upcoming season, 247Sports’ Brad Crawford listed Bonitto among his ten most feared defensive players in college football.
Nik Bonitto is a primary reason many are saying this will be Lincoln Riley’s stingiest defense yet at Oklahoma, a team with preseason national championship aspirations. Bonitto tallied 32 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, 11 quarterback hurries and two pass breakups last season over 10 games, establishing himself as one of the most disruptive pass rushers in college football. Bonitto was named a second-team All-American by the Associated Press and a first-team All-American by Pro Football Focus. And if you’ve watched him pursue a ballcarrier or quarterback, you’ll notice there are few players who hit harder than No. 11 for the Sooners.
2021 is certainly a big year for Oklahoma as a team with hopes to compete for a national title – with Bonitto being a very big part of that. If he has the season he is capable of having, it can be expected he will be an early round selection in the 2022 NFL draft.
Also, somewhat worth noting, Bonitto was the only Big 12 player that Crawford included in his list. So, logically speaking, it isn’t out of the question to think he could compete for the league’s defensive player of the year award if the stars align.
