Nigel Bradham
Age: 35
Nigel Bradham (born September 4, 1989) is an American football linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Florida State University. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL draft.
High school career
At Wakulla High School, Bradham had consecutive 145-tackle seasons, including a senior campaign in which he also registered 12 sacks and four defensive touchdowns in leading Wakulla to a district championship and a first-round playoff berth, where they lost 13-8 to Panama City Beach Arnold. As a junior he tallied 145 tackles, eight sacks and four interceptions, two of which he returned for TDs. Bradham recorded over 430 tackles and 20 sacks during his three-year career on the varsity football team at Wakulla.
Bradham was named to All-American teams by Parade, SuperPrep, and USA Today, among others. He was a finalist for the Hall Trophy and recorded four tackles in the 2008 U.S. Army All-American Bowl. Considered a five-star recruit and the ranked first among outside linebacker prospects by Rivals.com, Bradham had numerous scholarship offers but decided to attend Florida State early in April 2007. He was the highest rated prospect of the Seminoles' 2008 recruiting class.
College career
As a true freshman in 2008, Bradham was in the linebacker rotation from opening day and played in each of the Seminoles' 13 games during the regular season, mostly at weakside linebacker. He made his first career start in the Seminoles' victory over the University of Miami. Bradham finished the season as fourth-leading tackler among the Seminoles' linebackers and Florida State's leading true freshmen tackler with 29 stops.
In his sophomore year, Bradham had 12 starts and led the Seminoles with 93 tackles (62 unassisted). He also recorded 5.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, one interception and finished second on the team with two fumble recoveries. Bradham earned honorable mention Sophomore All-American honors from College Football News.
Starting all 14 games at weakside linebacker, Bradham led the Seminoles in tackling for a second consecutive season, totalling 98 tackles (54 solos), including 5.5 tackles for loss. He also added five sacks, which ranked third on FSU's nation-leading sack unit behind Brandon Jenkins and Markus White, as well as a single-season high five passes defended, to go along with a forced fumble. Bradham recorded a season-high of ten tackles twice, against Boston College and North Carolina, with six solo stops in each game.
As a senior, Bradham was named team captain. He registered 86 tackles, which led the Seminoles for the third consecutive season, and earned All-ACC honorable mention. FSU ranked as the No. 4 defense nationally. Bradham finished his career with 39 starts, including his last 37 games.
Professional career
2012 NFL Draft
Ht | Wt | Arm length | Hand size | 40-yd dash | 10-yd split | 20-yd split | 20-ss | 3-cone | Vert | Broad | BP | Wonderlic | |||||||
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6 ft 1⅝ in | 241 lb | 33¾ in | 10½ in | 4.64 s | x s | x s | 4.37 s | 7.18 s | 37 in | 10 ft 1 in | 24 reps | x | |||||||
Buffalo Bills
Bradham was selected in the 4th round (105th overall) of the 2012 NFL Draft by Buffalo Bills. He had a breakout season with the Bills in 2014. He had 104 tackles and 2.5 sacks.
Philadelphia Eagles
Bradham signed a two-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles on March 9, 2016.
Personal
In August 2013, Bradham was given an appearance ticket for unlawful possession of marijuana in Tonawanda, New York. The charges were later dropped, provided Bradham would stay out of trouble for six months.