South Florida athlete is versatile
One thing is certain, Homestead (Fla.) junior safety/wide receiver Joseph Nicolas likes the physical aspect of football.
Nicholas could potentially play offense at the next level. He has very good hands and is not afraid to sacrifice his body to make the tough catch. But the 6-foot-3, 198-pounder says that he prefers defense, where he excels in pass coverage as well as run support.
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"I just like to hit defensively," Nicholas said. "I like tackling and I like to be able to see the entire field (from the free safety position). There isn't as much pressure when you are playing safety as there is when you are playing wide receiver."
On the recruiting front, Miami is a team to watch with regards to Nicholas. The only unofficial visit he took during the summer was to the Orange Bowl to watch the Hurricanes dismantle Duke, 52-7, on Oct. 8.
"The crowd was a big crowd," Nicholas said. "I pictured myself playing in front of a crowd that big."
He added that the best college football game he watched on television this season was Miami's 27-7 victory against Virginia Tech on Nov. 5 in Blacksburg, Va.
Nicholas also lists Florida, Georgia Tech, Georgia, N.C. State and LSU as some schools that he has his eye on, in addition to the Canes. Here is what he had to say about each of those programs:
Florida: "I was looking at them more as an offensive school. I like they way they throw the ball around in that offense and get it to their wide receivers."
Georgia Tech: "That is a team I felt like I could step in and play either position."
Georgia: "Same thing as with Georgia Tech, but I think I would be a better fit at free safety there."
N.C. State: "They are a defensive school."
LSU: "I like the way they spread the ball around offensively."
Nicholas finished the season with 44 tackles, seven pass break-ups and two interceptions on defense and caught 27 passes for 259 yards and six touchdowns on offense. He plans to camp at Miami and perhaps Georgia.
Nicholas says that besides getting a college scholarship and winning a state title, he hopes that playing football is a great learning experience.
"I hope that I am a better person for having played," he said.
Stay tuned to Rivals.com for complete coverage of the class of 2007.