GREEN & WHITE FOOTBALL

Michigan State's Montae Nicholson selected by Redskins in NFL draft

Chris Solari
Detroit Free Press
S Montae Nicholson. Projected round: 4-7. He left after his junior year at MSU. He tested well at the combine, but did not take part in the bench press and then underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum in his shoulder that he played through last fall. That could make teams leery of taking him before the third day.

Montae Nicholson made it two Michigan State players taken in the NFL Draft, and he’s about to join another former Spartan in the nation’s capital.

The Washington Redskins selected Nicholson with the 17th pick of the fourth round, 123rd overall. That’s where Kirk Cousins – also a fourth-round pick of the Redskins – is the starting quarterback.

“Montae was sitting there, and it was kind of a position of need,” Washington coach Jay Gruden told reporters. “But also, he was one of our top-rated safeties and we decided to take him.”

Former MSU defensive lineman Malik McDowell was taken by the Seattle Seahawks in the second round Friday at No. 35 overall. Both Nicholson and McDowell left MSU after their junior seasons.

“Extremely excited to be apart (sic) of this great organization,” Nicholson tweeted. “Ready to go to work! #HTTR (Hail to the Redskins)”

Nicholson becomes one of the biggest players for an undersized secondary to which the Redskins added starting strong safety Su’a Cravens out of USC in the second round last year’s draft and cornerback Fabian Moreau in the third round this year. Washington’s defense finished 28th overall in the NFL by allowing 377.9 yards per game and 25th in passing defense at 258.1 yards per game. He’ll also likely be used on special teams to maximize his speed and hitting ability.

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“Montae Nicholson is a guy that checks all the boxes – a height, weight, speed specimen,” NFL Network analyst Bucky Brooks said. “He’s tough to watch on tape because you see some of the flashes, you like some of the things. He’s a big hitter, he controls it in between the hash (marks). But he’s not necessarily a playmaker. … You’d like to see more ball possession from your safety.

“I believe what they’re banking on – because of his size, his traits – that he can grow into the position and eventually make a run at a starting job. I think right now, though, he’s probably better fitted to be a special teams player early in his career.”

The Redskins picked defensive players in each of this draft’s first four rounds for the first time in team history, but Nicholson was their first safety selected. CBSSports.com analyst Dane Brugler, however, didn’t like how Nicholson fits in Washington.

“Size/speed athlete, but too reactive,” Brugler said. “I don’t like hesitant safeties.”

A 6-foot-2, 212-pound strong safety from Pittsburgh, Nicholson had surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder two days after participating in the NFL Draft Combine. He ran an impressive 4.42-second 40-yard dash, third-fastest among safeties there, with a vertical jump of 35 inches and a broad jump of 125 inches. He did not participate in the bench press due to his injury.

“He’s got an injury, but we feel like he’ll be ready for camp,” Gruden said. “A big kid that can really run. … Worst case, he’s gonna help out on special teams, and that’s important. That’s one of the big three phases. So that’s a good add for us.”

The 2016 All-Big Ten honorable mention finished second for the Spartans last season with 86 tackles. That included a career-high 18 against BYU, the most by any Spartan in coach Mark Dantonio’s first 10 season, and 13 stops against both Ohio State and Northwestern.

Nicholson finished his three-year MSU career with 200 tackles but just four interceptions and four pass break-ups.

“You talk about this past year,” ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. said of Nicholson, “he was at his best. … In coverage, he was just OK. I think his strength is really lowering those bone-jarring (hits). Needs to be a little consistent sometimes with his technique, but he made a lot of plays this year for the Spartans in that secondary.”

Nicholson is the seventh Spartan defensive back under Mark Dantonio to be selected in the draft, joining Tony Lippett, Trae Waynes, Darqueze Dennard, Trenton Robinson, Chris L. Rucker and Jeremy Ware.

With Nicholson and McDowell getting taken, it means MSU has had a player selected in every NFL Draft since its current form began in 1967.

A few other MSU players could hear their name called late in the draft, including linebacker Riley Bullough, tight end Josiah Price, wide receiver R.J. Shelton and fullback Prescott Line.

Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrissolari. Download our Spartans Xtra app for free on Apple and Android devices!