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OklahomaSooners

Nik Bonitto doesn't hold back when talking about playing style at NFL Combine

275133747_4796292347117549_592518599057046758_nby:Jonathan Wagner•03/04/22•

Jonathan Wagner

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Tom Pennington via Getty Images.

Former Oklahoma Sooners edge rusher/linebacker Nik Bonitto is looking to prove himself at this week’s NFL Scouting Combine. When asked by reporters about his style of play, Bonitto gave an awesome and memorable response.

“Balls to the wall every play and just kill anybody that’s in front of me,” Bonitto said, via NBC Sports’ Thor Nystrom.

Bonitto was named to ESPN’s preseason All-American team ahead of the 2021 season. He was one of three linebackers named by ESPN.

Where Bonitto could go in the 2022 NFL Draft

At this point, Bonitto is probably not looking at a first round selection in the upcoming NFL Draft. The former Sooners star spent four years in Norman, and turned into a valuable contributor on Oklahoma’s defense. After playing in just two games as a true freshman in 2018, Bonitto played in 13 games in 2019, totaling 43 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and one interception.

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During the 2020 season, Bonitto played in ten games, totaling 33 tackles with 11.5 tackles for loss and nine sacks. This past season, he had 39 tackles and seven sacks with a career-high 15 tackles for loss. Overall, Bonitto finished his collegiate career with 118 total tackles, 69 solo stops, 33 tackles for loss, 19.5 sacks, one forced fumble, seven passes defended, two forced fumble, and one interception.

While Bonitto isn’t a surefire first round pick in the NFL Draft, it isn’t completely out of the question. He appears poised to be a Day 2 pick, likely going off the board at some point during the second round. But in some mocks, Bonitto has climbed into the fringe first/second round territory.

NFL.com released a three-round NFL mock draft earlier in February, and Bonitto found himself going off the board early in the second round. In the mock, he was selected 40th overall by the Denver Broncos. But with the NFL Combine underway and Pro Days also remaining, Bonitto has some time to prove his worth to teams and front offices around the league.