2023 NFL Draft Diamonds Scouting Report: Nico Bolden, SS/LB, Kent State

Player Data

Name, Jersey #	Nico Bolden / #24
School (Code)	Kent State (OHKS, 2021-22) / New Mexico (NMUN, 2017-20)
DOB, Class Yr	10-15-1998 / Graduate (6th Year)
Height, Weight	6030 / 213
40 Yd Dash	4.60E
Arms, Hands	N/A
Position/Depth	SS / Starter
Honors/Captainship	2022 Second-Team All-MAC
Season Viewed (yr)	2022
Games Watched	v. Washington 2022v. Oklahoma 2022v. Georgia 2022
Scout Name / Date	Derrick Deen / 12-12-2022

Per Year Stats (Most Recent First)

2022	11 GP/GS / 103 TCKLs / 1.5 TFL / 1 PD
2021	12 GP/8 GS / 85 TCKLs / 2 TFL / 1 Sack / 2 INTs / 4 PD / 2 FF / 1 FR
2020	4 GP / 25 TCKLs / 1 TFL / 3 FF
2019	12 GP/1 GS / 16 TCKLs / 1 TFL
2018	10 GP / 6 TCKLs
2017	REDSHIRT

Player Summary:

A sixth-year graduate student, enrolled at New Mexico where he redshirted in 2017 before transferring to Kent State in 2021. Tall, lengthy, and athletic build with cut, muscular arms and a tough, firm upper body. Long and athletic legs with desirable muscle build. Aligns and starts primarily at strong safety, with 730 total defensive snaps in 2022. Also saw snaps at free safety (202), in the box (427), and in the slot (97). Appears much bigger on film. Average athleticism. Generally, sits closer to the box, but is able to seek depth quickly. Big and long enough to disrupt timing on offense and force receivers out of their routes. Ball skills were better in 2021 than seasons before. Reads passes well in the box and short zones, is able to match tight ends well and jump screen assignments. Can close on a pass catcher from deep assignments. Can be grabby in coverage. Back pedal isn’t technically sound, tight hips, needs cleaning up. Lacks fluidity, doesn’t move well laterally. Average anticipatory skills. Doesn’t have the run stride you’d like to see from a tall defender. Average angles of approach, especially down the boundary. Hard-nosed defender when coming downhill. Explosive, straight-line athleticism. Hard hitter in closed space, much more comfortable defender in the box. Sufficient open-field tackler. Does a good job seeking a ball carrier in traffic. Tackling mechanics and pad level must see adjustment at the next level. 

Scheme Fit: 

Fits in as an interior linebacker in 4-3 defensive scheme

Power Statement: 

Comes to the next level with a lot of experience as a strong safety and, with his size and time spent playing the box, should make the switch to linebacker. Once he finds fluidity in his lateral abilities and more physicality in his game, he could be a hard-nosed coverage linebacker on the depth chart.