Former Bull Stephen Nicholas Hired By USF Football

One of the most accomplished football players in USF history has returned to campus.

Willie Taggart has added former Bulls linebacker Stephen Nicholas to his staff as a quality control coach for the 2015 season. The seven-year NFL veteran last played professionally in 2013, with all of his 101 career games coming with the Atlanta Falcons, who selected him in the 4th round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He finishes his pro career with 378 tackles, eight sacks, and two interceptions.

As a Bull, "Snake" was an integral part of the growth of USF Football. He was First Team All-Big East his senior season (2006), a Conference USA All-Freshman in 2003, and was twice named USF's Defensive MVP (2004, 2006).

There isn't a guy in the history of USF Football that is spoken more highly of by his peers and former coaches than Nicholas, who fans will remember as playing all three linebackerpositions in Wally Burnham's infamous 4-3 "cover two" defense, using the now-USF-legendary "triangle read." The Bulls are lucky to have him back on campus, where we assume he'll be a part of Tom Allen's team installing the 4-2-5.

And since we'll also assume he earned the majority of the $17.5 million contract he signed in 2011, I guess he's buying the coaching dinners occasionally.

Welcome home, Snake.