Virginia Tech DE Dadi Nicolas Had The Top Weight-Adjusted Vertical At 2016 Combine

by Chase Stuart on March 14, 2016

Virginia Tech defense end Dadi Nicolas is going to have to switch positions in the pros, but there’s no doubting his athleticism. At just 235 pounds, Nicolas projects as a 3-4 outside linebacker/situational pass rusher in the NFL.

At the NFL Combine, seven players jumped over 40 inches in the vertical jump drill. The first six of those players weighed 188, 194, 194, 202, 209, 209 pounds. The seventh was Nicolas, who weighed 235 pounds: that’s light for a defensive end, but really, really heavy for a guy who has a 41″ vertical.

The best-fit formula to project vertical jumps at the 2016 NFL combine was 46.96 – 0.06 * Weight (Pounds). So Nicolas, at 235, would be projected to jump 32.8 inches. That means the Hokies star, who led the ACC in tackles for loss in 2014, outjumped expectations by 8.2 inches, the most of any player in Indianapolis.

Rk	Name	College	POS	Weight (lbs)	Exp. Vert	Vert.	VJ Diff
1	Dadi Nicolas	Virginia Tech	DE	235	32.8	41	8.2
2	Leonard Floyd	Georgia	OLB	244	32.3	39.5	7.2
3	Daniel Lasco	California	RB	209	34.4	41.5	7.1
4	Jalen Ramsey	Florida State	FS	209	34.4	41.5	7.1
5	Travis Feeney	Washington	OLB	230	33.1	40	6.9
6	Josh Doctson	Texas Christian	WR	202	34.8	41	6.2
7	Javon Hargrave	South Carolina State	DT	309	28.4	34.5	6.1
8	Dan Vitale	Northwestern	RB	239	32.6	38.5	5.9
9	Robert Nkemdiche	Mississippi	DT	294	29.3	35	5.7
10	Sterling Shepard	Oklahoma	WR	194	35.3	41	5.7
11	Sheldon Rankins	Louisville	DT	299	29.0	34.5	5.5
12	DeAndre Elliott	Colorado State	CB	188	35.7	41	5.3
13	Lawrence Thomas	Michigan State	DE	286	29.8	35	5.2
14	Corey Coleman	Baylor	WR	194	35.3	40.5	5.2
15	Justin Simmons	Boston College	FS	202	34.8	40	5.2
16	Jordan Jenkins	Georgia	OLB	259	31.4	36.5	5.1
17	Connor Wujciak	Boston College	DT	291	29.5	34.5	5.0
18	Germain Ifedi	Texas AM	OT	324	27.5	32.5	5.0
19	Emmanuel Ogbah	Oklahoma State	DE	273	30.6	35.5	4.9
20	Derrick Henry	Alabama	RB	247	32.1	37	4.9
21	Stephen Anderson	California	TE	230	33.1	38	4.9
22	Jason Fanaika	Utah	DE	271	30.7	35.5	4.8
23	Devante Bond	Oklahoma	OLB	235	32.8	37.5	4.7
24	Matt Judon	Grand Valley State	DE	275	30.4	35	4.6
25	Eric Murray	Minnesota	CB	199	35.0	39.5	4.5
26	Connor McGovern	Missouri	G	306	28.6	33	4.4
27	Vernon Hargreaves	Florida	CB	204	34.7	39	4.3
28	Cardale Jones	Ohio State	QB	253	31.8	36	4.2
29	Miles Killebrew	Southern Utah	SS	217	33.9	38	4.1
30	Ricardo Louis	Auburn	WR	215	34.0	38	4.0
31	Keanu Neal	Florida	FS	211	34.3	38	3.7
32	Paxton Lynch	Memphis	QB	244	32.3	36	3.7
33	Joel Heath	Michigan State	DT	293	29.4	33	3.6
34	Tyler Ervin	San Jose State	RB	192	35.4	39	3.6
35	Ben Braunecker	Harvard	TE	250	31.9	35.5	3.6
36	Kenneth Dixon	Louisiana Tech	RB	215	34.0	37.5	3.5
37	Dean Lowry	Northwestern	DE	296	29.2	32.5	3.3
38	Charles Tapper	Oklahoma	DE	271	30.7	34	3.3
39	Hassan Ridgeway	Texas	DT	303	28.8	32	3.2
40	Beau Sandland	Montana State	TE	253	31.8	35	3.2
41	Noah Spence	Eastern Kentucky	DE	251	31.9	35	3.1
42	Shilique Calhoun	Michigan State	DE	251	31.9	35	3.1
43	Devon Cajuste	Stanford	WR	234	32.9	36	3.1
44	Brandon Shell	South Carolina	OT	324	27.5	30.5	3.0
45	Derrick Kindred	Texas Christian	SS	207	34.5	37.5	3.0
46	Trevor Davis	California	WR	188	35.7	38.5	2.8
47	Brandon Wilds	South Carolina	RB	220	33.7	36.5	2.8
48	Keyarris Garrett	Tulsa	WR	220	33.7	36.5	2.8
49	Yannick Ngakoue	Maryland	DE	252	31.8	34.5	2.7
50	Maurice Canady	Virginia	CB	193	35.4	38	2.6
51	Jason Spriggs	Indiana	OT	301	28.9	31.5	2.6
52	Sean Davis	Maryland	FS	201	34.9	37.5	2.6
53	Jalin Marshall	Ohio State	WR	200	34.9	37.5	2.6
54	DeForest Buckner	Oregon	DE	291	29.5	32	2.5
55	Jarran Reed	Alabama	DT	307	28.5	31	2.5
56	Darron Lee	Ohio State	OLB	232	33.0	35.5	2.5
57	Chris Moore	Cincinnati	WR	206	34.6	37	2.4
58	Ryan Malleck	Virginia Tech	TE	247	32.1	34.5	2.4
59	Joe Dahl	Washington State	G	304	28.7	31	2.3
60	Shawn Oakman	Baylor	DE	287	29.7	32	2.3
61	Juston Burris	North Carolina State	CB	212	34.2	36.5	2.3
62	Kyler Fackrell	Utah State	OLB	245	32.2	34.5	2.3
63	LeShaun Sims	Southern Utah	CB	203	34.8	37	2.2
64	Shaq Lawson	Clemson	DE	269	30.8	33	2.2
65	D.J. Reader	Clemson	DT	327	27.3	29.5	2.2
66	Jonathan Bullard	Florida	DE	285	29.8	32	2.2
67	DeVante Harris	Texas AM	CB	176	36.4	38.5	2.1
68	B.J. Goodson	Clemson	ILB	242	32.4	34.5	2.1
69	Deiondre Hall	Northern Iowa	CB	199	35.0	37	2.0
70	Romeo Okwara	Notre Dame	DE	265	31.0	33	2.0
71	Vernon Butler	Louisiana Tech	DT	323	27.6	29.5	1.9
72	Alex McCalister	Florida	DL	239	32.6	34.5	1.9
73	Vincent Valentine	Nebraska	DT	329	27.2	29	1.8
74	Joshua Perry	Ohio State	OLB	254	31.7	33.5	1.8
75	C.J. Prosise	Notre Dame	RB	220	33.7	35.5	1.8
76	Willie Henry	Michigan	DT	303	28.8	30.5	1.7
77	Ryan Kelly	Alabama	C	311	28.3	30	1.7
78	James Bradberry	Samford	CB	211	34.3	36	1.7
79	Terrance Smith	Florida State	OLB	235	32.8	34.5	1.7
80	Tyler Johnstone	Oregon	OT	301	28.9	30.5	1.6
81	Jack Conklin	Michigan State	OT	308	28.5	30	1.5
82	Jalen Mills	LSU	FS	191	35.5	37	1.5
83	Marquez North	Tennessee	WR	223	33.6	35	1.4
84	Andy Janovich	Nebraska	RB	238	32.7	34	1.3
85	Austin Hooper	Stanford	TE	254	31.7	33	1.3
86	Alex Lewis	Nebraska	OT	312	28.2	29.5	1.3
87	Halapoulivaati Vaitai	Texas Christian	OT	320	27.7	29	1.3
88	Maliek Collins	Nebraska	DT	311	28.3	29.5	1.2
89	Leonte Carroo	Rutgers	WR	211	34.3	35.5	1.2
90	Joey Bosa	Ohio State	DE	269	30.8	32	1.2
91	Joe Schobert	Wisconsin	OLB	244	32.3	33.5	1.2
92	Jordan Lomax	Iowa	FS	202	34.8	36	1.2
93	T.J. Green	Clemson	FS	209	34.4	35.5	1.1
94	Charone Peake	Clemson	WR	209	34.4	35.5	1.1
95	Dominique Robertson	West Georgia	OT	324	27.5	28.5	1.0
96	Deon Bush	Miami (FL)	FS	199	35.0	36	1.0
97	DeVondre Campbell	Minnesota	OLB	232	33.0	34	1.0
98	Branden Jackson	Texas Tech	DE	273	30.6	31.5	0.9
99	Malcolm Mitchell	Georgia	WR	198	35.1	36	0.9
100	Jordan Howard	Indiana	RB	230	33.1	34	0.9
101	Daryl Worley	West Virginia	CB	204	34.7	35.5	0.8
102	Joshua Garnett	Stanford	G	312	28.2	29	0.8
103	Michael Thomas	Ohio State	WR	212	34.2	35	0.8
104	Ken Crawley	Colorado	CB	187	35.7	36.5	0.8
105	Darius Latham	Indiana	DT	311	28.3	29	0.7
106	Joel Stave	Wisconsin	QB	236	32.8	33.5	0.7
107	Taylor Decker	Ohio State	OT	310	28.3	29	0.7
108	Sheldon Day	Notre Dame	DT	293	29.4	30	0.6
109	Kamalei Correa	Boise State	DE	243	32.4	33	0.6
110	Mekale McKay	Cincinnati	WR	207	34.5	35	0.5
111	Montese Overton	East Carolina	OLB	223	33.6	34	0.4
112	Thomas Duarte	UCLA	TE	231	33.1	33.5	0.4
113	Nelson Spruce	Colorado	WR	206	34.6	35	0.4
114	Kenny Clark	UCLA	DT	314	28.1	28.5	0.4
115	Glenn Gronkowski	Kansas State	RB	239	32.6	33	0.4
116	Ryan Smith	North Carolina Central	CB	189	35.6	36	0.4
117	Jerell Adams	South Carolina	TE	247	32.1	32.5	0.4
118	Kolby Listenbee	Texas Christian	WR	197	35.1	35.5	0.4
119	Ronnie Stanley	Notre Dame	OT	312	28.2	28.5	0.3
120	Tyvis Powell	Ohio State	FS	211	34.3	34.5	0.2
121	Jonathan Jones	Auburn	CB	186	35.8	36	0.2
122	Anthony Zettel	Penn State	DE	277	30.3	30.5	0.2
123	Bronson Kaufusi	Brigham Young	DE	285	29.8	30	0.2
124	Giorgio Newberry	Florida State	DE	285	29.8	30	0.2
125	Sterling Bailey	Georgia	DE	285	29.8	30	0.2
126	Kenyan Drake	Alabama	RB	210	34.3	34.5	0.2
127	D.J. Foster	Arizona State	WR	193	35.4	35.5	0.1
128	Braxton Miller	Ohio State	WR	201	34.9	35	0.1
129	Ronald Blair	Appalachian State	DE	284	29.9	30	0.1
130	Stephen Weatherly	Vanderbilt	OLB	267	30.9	31	0.1
131	Jordan Payton	UCLA	WR	207	34.5	34.5	0.0
132	John Theus	Georgia	OT	313	28.2	28	-0.2
133	Cleveland Wallace	San Jose State	CB	188	35.7	35.5	-0.2
134	Soma Vainuku	Southern California	RB	246	32.2	32	-0.2
135	Victor Ochi	Stony Brook	DE	246	32.2	32	-0.2
136	Joe Thuney	North Carolina State	G	304	28.7	28.5	-0.2
137	DeAndre Washington	Texas Tech	RB	204	34.7	34.5	-0.2
138	Demarcus Robinson	Florida	WR	203	34.8	34.5	-0.3
139	Caleb Benenoch	UCLA	OT	311	28.3	28	-0.3
140	Evan Boehm	Missouri	C	302	28.8	28.5	-0.3
141	Zack Sanchez	Oklahoma	CB	185	35.9	35.5	-0.4
142	Nick Kwiatkoski	West Virginia	ILB	243	32.4	32	-0.4
143	Steven Daniels	Boston College	ILB	243	32.4	32	-0.4
144	Briean Boddy-Calhoun	Minnesota	CB	193	35.4	35	-0.4
145	Mehdi Abdesmad	Boston College	DT	284	29.9	29.5	-0.4
146	Nila Kasitati	Oklahoma	G	317	27.9	27.5	-0.4
147	Anthony Brown	Purdue	CB	192	35.4	35	-0.4
148	Tyler Marz	Wisconsin	OT	316	28.0	27.5	-0.5
149	Quinton Jefferson	Maryland	DT	291	29.5	29	-0.5
150	Steve Longa	Rutgers	OLB	241	32.5	32	-0.5
151	Marshaun Coprich	Illinois State	RB	207	34.5	34	-0.5
152	Harlan Miller	Southeastern Louisiana	CB	182	36.0	35.5	-0.5
153	James Cowser	Southern Utah	DE	248	32.1	31.5	-0.6
154	Josh Ferguson	Illinois	RB	198	35.1	34.5	-0.6
155	Kevin Peterson	Oklahoma State	CB	181	36.1	35.5	-0.6
156	Reggie Ragland	Alabama	ILB	247	32.1	31.5	-0.6
157	Deion Jones	LSU	OLB	222	33.6	33	-0.6
158	Bralon Addison	Oregon	WR	197	35.1	34.5	-0.6
159	Laquon Treadwell	Mississippi	WR	221	33.7	33	-0.7
160	Jake Brendel	UCLA	C	303	28.8	28	-0.8
161	Peyton Barber	Auburn	RB	228	33.3	32.5	-0.8
162	Andrew Billings	Baylor	DT	311	28.3	27.5	-0.8
163	Kevon Seymour	Southern California	CB	186	35.8	35	-0.8
164	Parker Ehinger	Cincinnati	G	310	28.3	27.5	-0.8
165	Dak Prescott	Mississippi State	QB	226	33.4	32.5	-0.9
166	Jeff Driskel	Louisiana Tech	QB	234	32.9	32	-0.9
167	Cayleb Jones	Arizona	WR	209	34.4	33.5	-0.9
168	Connor Cook	Michigan State	QB	217	33.9	33	-0.9
169	Ezekiel Elliott	Ohio State	RB	225	33.4	32.5	-0.9
170	Wendell Smallwood	West Virginia	RB	208	34.5	33.5	-1.0
171	Elijah Shumate	Notre Dame	SS	216	34.0	33	-1.0
172	Matt Ioannidis	Temple	DT	299	29.0	28	-1.0
173	Nick Martin	Notre Dame	C	299	29.0	28	-1.0
174	Nick Vannett	Ohio State	TE	257	31.5	30.5	-1.0
175	Spencer Drango	Baylor	G	315	28.0	27	-1.0
176	Nick Vigil	Utah State	ILB	239	32.6	31.5	-1.1
177	Stephane Nembot	Colorado	OT	322	27.6	26.5	-1.1
178	Tyler Boyd	Pittsburgh	WR	197	35.1	34	-1.1
179	Rashard Robinson	LSU	CB	171	36.7	35.5	-1.2
180	Joe Haeg	North Dakota State	OT	304	28.7	27.5	-1.2
181	David Morgan	Texas-San Antonio	TE	262	31.2	30	-1.2
182	Alex Redmond	UCLA	G	294	29.3	28	-1.3
183	Kevin Hogan	Stanford	QB	218	33.9	32.5	-1.4
184	Roger Lewis	Bowling Green	WR	201	34.9	33.5	-1.4
185	Tavon Young	Temple	CB	183	36.0	34.5	-1.5
186	Josh Forrest	Kentucky	ILB	249	32.0	30.5	-1.5
187	Austin Blythe	Iowa	C	298	29.1	27.5	-1.6
188	Lamarcus Brutus	Florida State	FS	206	34.6	33	-1.6
189	Scooby Wright	Arizona	ILB	239	32.6	31	-1.6
190	Tyler Matakevich	Temple	ILB	238	32.7	31	-1.7
191	Temarrick Hemingway	South Carolina State	TE	244	32.3	30.5	-1.8
192	Tajae Sharpe	Massachusetts	WR	194	35.3	33.5	-1.8
193	Carl Nassib	Penn State	DE	277	30.3	28.5	-1.8
194	Adolphus Washington	Ohio State	DT	301	28.9	27	-1.9
195	Xavien Howard	Baylor	CB	201	34.9	33	-1.9
196	Taveze Calhoun	Mississippi State	CB	192	35.4	33.5	-1.9
197	Darian Thompson	Boise State	FS	208	34.5	32.5	-2.0
198	Bryce Williams	East Carolina	TE	257	31.5	29.5	-2.0
199	Gionni Paul	Utah	ILB	231	33.1	31	-2.1
200	Jacoby Brissett	North Carolina State	QB	231	33.1	31	-2.1
201	Josh Woodrum	Liberty	QB	231	33.1	31	-2.1
202	Austin Johnson	Penn State	DT	314	28.1	26	-2.1
203	Cyrus Jones	Alabama	CB	197	35.1	33	-2.1
204	Dominick Jackson	Alabama	OT	313	28.2	26	-2.2
205	Willie Beavers	Western Michigan	OT	321	27.7	25.5	-2.2
206	Geronimo Allison	Illinois	WR	196	35.2	33	-2.2
207	Beniquez Brown	Mississippi State	OLB	229	33.2	31	-2.2
208	Carson Wentz	North Dakota State	QB	237	32.7	30.5	-2.2
209	Trevone Boykin	Texas Christian	QB	212	34.2	32	-2.2
210	Will Fuller	Notre Dame	WR	186	35.8	33.5	-2.3
211	D.J. White	Georgia Tech	CB	193	35.4	33	-2.4
212	A.J. Stamps	Kentucky	FS	193	35.4	33	-2.4
213	DeAndre Houston-Carson	William & Mary	FS	201	34.9	32.5	-2.4
214	Paul Perkins	UCLA	RB	208	34.5	32	-2.5
215	Jayron Kearse	Clemson	SS	216	34.0	31.5	-2.5
216	Rashawn Scott	Miami (FL)	WR	199	35.0	32.5	-2.5
217	AShawn Robinson	Alabama	DT	307	28.5	26	-2.5
218	Kelvin Taylor	Florida	RB	207	34.5	32	-2.5
219	David Grinnage	North Carolina State	TE	248	32.1	29.5	-2.6
220	Christian Hackenberg	Penn State	QB	223	33.6	31	-2.6
221	Hunter Sharp	Utah State	WR	198	35.1	32.5	-2.6
222	Cole Toner	Harvard	OT	306	28.6	26	-2.6
223	Isaac Seumalo	Oregon State	G	303	28.8	26	-2.8
224	Jack Allen	Michigan State	C	294	29.3	26.5	-2.8
225	Shadrach Thornton	North Carolina State	RB	217	33.9	31	-2.9
226	Jared Norris	Utah	ILB	241	32.5	29.5	-3.0
227	Demarcus Ayers	Houston	WR	182	36.0	33	-3.0
228	D.J. Pettway	Alabama	DE	265	31.0	28	-3.0
229	Jimmy Pruitt	San Jose State	CB	198	35.1	32	-3.1
230	Cody Core	Mississippi	WR	205	34.6	31.5	-3.1
231	Chris Mayes	Georgia	DT	338	26.7	23.5	-3.2
232	Cory Littleton	Washington	OLB	238	32.7	29.5	-3.2
233	Rashard Higgins	Colorado State	WR	196	35.2	32	-3.2
234	Duke Williams	Auburn	WR	229	33.2	30	-3.2
235	Keith Marshall	Georgia	RB	219	33.8	30.5	-3.3
236	Eric Striker	Oklahoma	OLB	227	33.3	30	-3.3
237	Vadal Alexander	LSU	G	326	27.4	24	-3.4
238	Cody Whitehair	Kansas State	G	301	28.9	25.5	-3.4
239	Graham Glasgow	Michigan	G	307	28.5	25	-3.5
240	Kris Frost	Auburn	OLB	240	32.5	29	-3.5
241	Kentrell Brothers	Missouri	ILB	245	32.2	28.5	-3.7
242	Fahn Cooper	Mississippi	OT	303	28.8	25	-3.8
243	Pharoh Cooper	South Carolina	WR	203	34.8	31	-3.8
244	Kenny Lawler	California	WR	203	34.8	31	-3.8
245	Chris Jones	Mississippi State	DT	310	28.3	24.5	-3.8
246	Artie Burns	Miami (FL)	CB	193	35.4	31.5	-3.9
247	Nate Sudfeld	Indiana	QB	234	32.9	29	-3.9
248	Johnny Holton	Cincinnati	WR	190	35.5	31.5	-4.0
249	Devaunte Sigler	Jacksonville State	DT	298	29.1	25	-4.1
250	Aaron Burbridge	Michigan State	WR	206	34.6	30.5	-4.1
251	Jihad Ward	Illinois	DE	297	29.1	25	-4.1
252	Pearce Slater	San Diego State	OT	329	27.2	23	-4.2
253	Blake Martinez	Stanford	ILB	237	32.7	28.5	-4.2
254	Ufomba Kamalu	Miami (FL)	DT	295	29.2	25	-4.2
255	Cody Kessler	Southern California	QB	220	33.7	29.5	-4.2
256	Denver Kirkland	Arkansas	G	335	26.8	22.5	-4.3
257	Dominique Alexander	Oklahoma	ILB	232	33.0	28.5	-4.5
258	Sebastian Tretola	Arkansas	G	314	28.1	23.5	-4.6
259	Brandon Williams	Texas AM	FS	197	35.1	30.5	-4.6
260	Matt Skura	Duke	C	305	28.6	24	-4.6
261	Alonzo Russell	Toledo	WR	206	34.6	29.5	-5.1
262	Jerald Hawkins	LSU	OT	305	28.6	23.5	-5.1
263	Alex Collins	Arkansas	RB	217	33.9	28.5	-5.4
264	Vernon Adams	Oregon	QB	200	34.9	29.5	-5.4
265	DeRunnya Wilson	Mississippi State	WR	224	33.5	28	-5.5
266	Brandon Allen	Arkansas	QB	217	33.9	28	-5.9
267	Darrell Greene	San Diego State	G	321	27.7	21.5	-6.2
268	Sua Cravens	Southern California	OLB	226	33.4	27	-6.4
269	Jared Goff	California	QB	215	34.0	27	-7.0
270	Brandon Doughty	Western Kentucky	QB	213	34.2	27	-7.2
271	Landon Turner	North Carolina	G	330	27.1	19	-8.1

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