This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Logan • ESPN on Thursday confirmed earlier media reports that Utah State junior linebacker Nick Vigil has officially applied for the NFL Draft.
Vigil told ESPN he was "really torn about my decision" but he's "… healthy and fit and ready to challenge myself even further."
For Vigil, a junior out of Fremont High School, it has already been a year to remember.
During the regular season, he led Utah State in tackles with 140. Only eight players in school history have had more in a season. He also led the Mountain West Conference and ranked fifth nationally in tackles per game (11.7).
In a 35-28 loss at Air Force, Virgil had a career-high 20 tackles. Only three Football Bowl Subdivision players had more in one game this year. In Utah State's 52-26 win over Boise State, he had 14 tackles, including two quarterback sacks, and a fumble recovery.
"Nick has had a very good year," coach Matt Wells said the day before Utah State's 23-21 loss to Akron in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. "He's an extremely valuable member of this program. … He's got a lot of God-given talent, but he has also developed that talent and he's very coachable. He's a tremendous kid off the field and a very good student.
"You don't have any [outside] issues with Nick Vigil. He's a football junkie and has a good character. He's a high-class individual and has an extremely high work ethic. You add all that to a bunch of God-given talent and you've got a special player."