Tag: Nik Bonitto

Where PFF ranked Nik Bonitto among returning pass rushers

After a breakout 2020 season for the Sooners, Nik Bonitto sits atop PFF’s returning defensive lineman in 2021.

The Oklahoma Sooners pass rush was a vital part of their team in 2020. On the edge the team deployed Isaiah Thomas, Nik Bonitto, and Ronnie Perkins when he was able to return to the team. In 2021, two of three will return with Perkins heading to the NFL through the draft.

The top returning player on the edge is rush linebacker Nik Bonitto. Last season he led the Sooners defense with 8.5 sacks and 11 quarterback hurries, despite playing in 10 games. His 11 tackles for loss ranked second on the team.

In 2020, Bonitto emerged as the Sooners’ most dominant pass rusher. He collapsed the pocket from either side of the line on pressure packages. No.11 was lethal off the edge with a quick get off, even more impressive coming from a two-point stance. Traditionally, players rushing standing up, do not have as much initial burst as a three-point stance with a hand positioned in the dirt. However, Bonitto anialated that stigma.

According to PFF, he led the nation in overall pass rush grade (93.6), pass rush win rate (28 percent), and pressure rate generated (25.7 percent). To top it off, he was named a first-team All-American for his production. Now that is quite the resume.

Bonitto was used more on pressure downs in 2020 but still was effective when dropping back into coverage, limiting ball carries from breaking to the second level. He is the whole package. Bonitto’s speed was no match for offensive tackles across from him in the trenches.

In a recent ranking of PFF’s top 10 defensive lineman returning to college in 2021, it is no surprise who popped up at No.1- Nik Bonitto.

Recognition that is well deserved. Bonitto consistently leapt off the tape in 2020. He became a nightmare for opposing offensive coordinators forced to game plan around his explosiveness. Even then, no blockers succeeded in containing him. Bonitto is a rare athlete on track to have a stellar 2021 season.

Oklahoma’s Nik Bonitto produced most pressures against Power Five OLs

When it came to creating pressure on offensive linemen in the Power Five conference, Oklahoma’s Nik Bonitto ranked at the very top.

When it came to creating pressure on opposing quarterbacks in 2020, the Oklahoma Sooners had one of the best groups in the country. Nik Bonitto was at the top of the list according to Pro Football Focus‘ pass rush productivity. In fact, he had the highest number of anyone in the Big 12 Conference. His number sitting at 14.6, teammate Ronnie Perkins was third in the conference at 10.3.

When you compare them to Power Five schools, Bonitto was second among the 64 schools that make up the Power Five. Perkins came in at No. 11 overall. Isaiah Thomas didn’t rank as high against all 64 teams but he was fifth amongst the Big 12 Conference. He and Bonitto should be major factors in the Big 12 Conference in 2021.

When it came to pressure percentage, Bonitto and Perkins were top four in the country. The former coming in at No. 1 according to PFF.

For the Oklahoma defense that has questions in their secondary, the pass rush will be key in 2021. Tre Brown, Tre Norwood, and possibly Brendan Raley-Hiles could all be gone. The only question is Raley-Hiles since both Brown and Norwood declared for the NFL draft. The former placed himself in the transfer portal and head coach Lincoln Riley is hoping he can convince him to stay for another year.

The defense seems to have plenty of impact players on the edge of the line. Perrion Winfrey, Laron Stokes, and Jalen Redmond will all return next year and should make their impact on the interior. Winfrey posted 25 hurries a season ago which was second only to Bonitto and Thomas.

Oklahoma has 6 players make Pro Football Focus’ top-101 players from 2020 season

The Oklahoma Sooners once again finished on top of the Big 12 mountain in 2020. PFF ranked six of their players in their top 101 in 2020.

Many fans and media alike knew there were going to be growing pains when it came to the Oklahoma Sooners football team in 2020. Continue reading “Oklahoma has 6 players make Pro Football Focus’ top-101 players from 2020 season”

Oklahoma LB Nik Bonitto announces he is returning for 2021 season

Oklahoma linebacker Nik Bonitto has announced he will be returning to the Sooners for the 2021 season.

Just two days after Oklahoma’s best defensive player Ronnie Perkins announced he would be heading to the NFL, a key piece to the defense is now officially coming back for 2021.

Linebacker Nik Bonitto announced via Twitter on Monday that he will be returning next season to get one more crack at a national title.

Bonitto was one of the best players on a vastly improved Sooners defense in 2020 and his return means a lot of production will be coming back with him. In ten games last season, he racked up 11.5 tackles for loss including nine sacks. His year was good enough to earn him a second-team all-America selection by the Associated Press.

The Oklahoma defense will be missing some key pieces from last season going into next year, but there is still some significant talent coming back. Bonitto is right at the top of that list, and he will be widely viewed as one of the better returning defenders in the country going into the 2021 season.

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What Alex Grinch, Oklahoma players had to say about Florida ahead of Cotton Bowl

What defensive coordinator Alex Grinch and Oklahoma players had to say about Florida ahead of their matchup in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl on Wednesday night.

No. 6 Oklahoma is set to conclude the wild 2020 season with a battle against No. 7 Florida in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl on Wednesday night.

The Sooners come in fresh off capturing a sixth consecutive Big 12 title a week and a half ago in a win over Iowa State. The victory was their seventh straight after falling into an early 1-2 hole to start the season.

Oklahoma has been led by their defense in the second half of the season, with a front seven that is among the best in the entire country. They’ll have their hands full with a potent Florida offense in this game, although the Gators will be missing multiple key contributors.

Last week at the Cotton Bowl virtual media day, defense coordinator Alex Grinch and Sooners players had the opportunity to give some thoughts on Florida ahead of their collision at AT&T Stadium. Here is what they had to say.

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Oklahoma LB Nik Bonitto, C Creed Humphrey named to AP All-America Teams

Oklahoma linebacker Nik Bonitto and center Creed Humphrey were selected to AP All-America teams on Monday.

More postseason honors for Oklahoma players has been handed out on Monday as two players were selected to the AP All-America teams.

Linebacker Nik Bonitto was placed on the second team and center Creed Humphrey picked up a third team selection.

Bonitto has been a big part of the Sooners defensive turnaround in 2020, as he is among the best in the country in terms of tackles for loss and sacks. Despite not being named to the All-Big 12 first or second team, he was selected as an All-American by Pro Football Focus and was placed on the AP All-Big 12 second team.

Humphrey has been the anchor of the Oklahoma offensive line for multiple years now and is a team captain. He was put on the AP All-Big 12 first team as well as the conference’s All-Big 12 first team.

These two guys will look to keep their successful seasons going in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl against Florida on Wednesday night in Arlington.

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Oklahoma’s Spencer Rattler, Creed Humphrey, Isaiah Thomas and Gabe Brkic named AP All-Big 12 First Team

Four Oklahoma players were named to the AP All-Big 12 first team on Thursday with another five getting placed on the second team.

The end of the season accolades keep coming in for Oklahoma.

On Thursday the AP All-Big 12 teams were announced with nine players receiving honors including four on the first team. Those four are quarterback Spencer Rattler, center Creed Humphrey, defensive tackle Isaiah Thomas and kicker Gabe Brkic.

Rattler was not included on either of the conference’s All-Big 12 teams that were announced last week, which he expressed his displeasure about, and Thomas was on second team as no Sooners defensive players received first team honors. Head coach Lincoln Riley made it clear the team was displeased by those lack of selections. Those frustrations are certainly receiving some validation given the honors that have come their way since including Rattler being deemed the Big 12 Player of the Year by Pro Football Focus.

The five players who were named to the AP All-Big 12 second team are offensive tackle Adrian Ealy, tight end Austin Stogner, wide receiver Marvin Mims, linebacker Nik Bonitto and cornerback Tre Brown.

Similar to Rattler, Bonitto was not named to the first or second team All-Big 12 either, but was named an All-American by Pro Football Focus.

Oklahoma will conclude their season in less than a week next Wednesday night against the Florida Gators in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl.

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Oklahoma RUSH LB Nik Bonitto named All-American by Pro Football Focus

Oklahoma linebacker Nik Bonitto was named an All-American by Pro Football Focus on Monday.

Oklahoma finished off the regular season by defeating Iowa State on Saturday 27-21 to claim a sixth consecutive Big 12 title and end the year at No. 6 in the final College Football Playoff rankings.

As they have been many times in the second half of the season, the team was led by their defense and the incredibly skilled players up front. One man who has been a big part of that group is redshirt sophomore linebacker Nik Bonitto.

Bonitto has had a fantastic season that was good enough to earn him a first team All-American defensive line selection by Pro Football Focus on Monday.

In nine games this season, Bonitto has racked up 10.5 tackles for loss including eight sacks which is among the top 20 in the country in that department. While he was strangely not included on the Big 12 all-conference first or second team, he was included in the final watch list for the Chuck Bednarik Award given to the most outstanding defensive player in the country a few weeks ago.

Bonitto will look to finish his sensational season with a bang when the Sooners face Florida in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl next Wednesday night.

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No Oklahoma defensive players named to All-Big 12 first team

In a surprise to many, no Oklahoma defensive players were named to the All-Big 12 first team on Thursday.

The All-Big 12 first and second teams have been announced on Thursday and to the surprise of many not one Oklahoma player was named to the All-Big 12 first team.

The Sooner defense has taken massive steps in just two years under Alex Grinch and has legitimately been performing an extremely high level in the second half of the season. They have been not only among the best in the Big 12, but in the entire country.

Three Oklahoma players were named to the All-Big 12 second team in Ronnie Perkins, Isaiah Thomas and Perrion Winfrey. Most notably absent from that group is Nik Bonitto who was included in the final watch list for the Bednarik Award given to the best defensive player in college football.

Undoubtedly extremely motivated by the lack of first team players, the defense will get a big chance to make a statement as they prepare for the Big 12 Championship game against Iowa State and Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year Mike Rose on Saturday.

Oklahoma’s Nik Bonitto added to Bednarik Award watch list

Oklahoma linebacker Nik Bonitto was added to the Chuck Bednarik Award watch list on Thursday.

One of the breakout defenders on the Oklahoma defense this season has without question been redshirt sophomore linebacker Nik Bonitto.

On Thursday, Bonitto was added to the final watch list for the Chuck Bednarik Award, which is presented to the most outstanding defensive player in college football.

Bonitto has started every game this year for Alex Grinch’s defense and leads the team in sacks (6.5) and tackles for loss (9). Those are good enough to put him inside the top ten in the Big 12 in both categories.

He also has 24 total tackles on the season with two pass breakups while being credited with a team-high nine quarterback hurries.

His teammate Ronnie Perkins was named to the preseason watch list for the award as well, so he joins him in contention for the honor. The semifinalists will be announced later this week on Dec. 6th.

Oklahoma will host Baylor in the regular season finale Saturday night at 7:00 p.m. CT at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.

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