Why fans should not sleep on Nik Bonitto

Is Oklahoma Sooners edge rusher Nik Bonitto being slept on?

In past years, Big 12 defenses have been the laughingstock of the college football scene and many elite players have gone under the radar. For Oklahoma rising star, Nik Bonitto, he is putting Division I football on notice.

The powerhouse edge puts the Sooners in the college football playoff conversation. In 2020, Bonitto compiled a team-high 10 quarterback hurries and was credited by PFF with the nation’s top pressure rate (25.7%). In addition, he ranked first nationally by PFF among 257 edge rushers in pass rush grade (93.5) and pass-rush win rate (28.5%). The redshirt junior is ready to wreak havoc on offenses in 2021.

With the University of Oklahoma sitting atop the CFB hierarchy with their high-powered offense, defenders can go unnoticed amidst the hype on Lincoln Riley’s offensive weapons. Bonitto garnered “most underrated player in all of college football” praise from PFF’s Anthony Treash.

Bonitto is among the top of all Power Five edge defenders in metrics. The Florida native’s burst off the edge is lethal. Bonitto thrives in Alex Grinch’s system from a stand-up rush linebacker or designated pass rusher (DPR) role.  The get-off is not typically as quick from a two-point stance as a three-point (hand in the dirt), but Bonitto flies off the line with effective pursuit angles and pass rush moves.

Bonitto elevates the pressure from the front four, freeing things up for the second and third levels of OU’s defense. He is consistent, playing 383 snaps a year ago, and quickly out-maneuvers offensive tackles with his power/speed combination at the line of scrimmage. No. 11 is poised for stardom in 2021. Do not sleep on Nik Bonitto. He is the guy Big 12 offenses will have circled on game plans.

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