USF Football Player Profile: #54 LB Nico Sawtelle

#54 LB Nico Sawtelle - Redshirt Junior, 6’2”, 222 lbs.

2017: Sawtelle took advantage of his first full season as a starter, proving to be one of the revelations in the defense’s resurgence under Brian Jean-Mary. Playing alongside Auggie Sanchez, he finished fourth on the team with 54 tackles (4.5 for loss), two interceptions, 1.5 sacks, and a fumble recovery.

2016: Sawtelle played in 11 games, only missing action against Memphis and SMU. He recorded 16 tackles, and recovered the fumble that Josh Black caused on the next-to-last play of the Towson game.

2015: Nico redshirted.

How He Came To USF: Nico played at Jensen Beach High School, near Port St. Lucie and Stuart on the Atlantic coast of Florida. In his last two years as a Falcon, Sawtelle collected 286 tackles and 23 sacks, and as a senior in 2014, he was named to the Class 6A all-state third team. Nico committed to USF after starring at the Bulls' Saturday Night Live Camp in July 2014, and stuck with them to signing day.

Recruiting Rankings: 247, ESPN, and Rivals gave Nico three stars. Scout gave him two stars.

Follow Him On... Sawtelle is on Twitter at @Nico11swoll, and on Instagram at nico11bull.