'11 CA DE/OT Troy Niklas (Signed Notre Dame LOI)

[GBdomer]

His speed and maybe lack of hands might have done it in. I’m not sure how else you fail with that size and measurable he has. I always thought he was gonna be a stud. Maybe we did him no favors switching him to TE

 

[ulukinatme]

Troy was definitely the weakest TE from a production/skill standpoint among Bernie Parmalee's apprentices. He was by far the most entertaining though.

 

[Irish#1]

Glad to see he's getting his degree.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

I'm glad he's coming back to finish as well. I always liked Niklas, would've loved to see his 4th year in the program. Could've been a monster and had a very different pro career.

 

[zelezo vlk]

I'm glad he's coming back to finish as well. I always liked Niklas, would've loved to see his 4th year in the program. Could've been a monster and had a very different pro career.

Could've made a difference in pretty much any of those 2014 games too

 

[NDPhilly]

Still wish he played DE instead

 

[Wild Bill]

I'm glad he's coming back to finish as well. I always liked Niklas, would've loved to see his 4th year in the program. Could've been a monster and had a very different pro career.

He was a difference maker as a run blocker even though he had average, at best, technique. He could have been an absolute nightmare on the edge if he had another year with HH.

I've always wondered how he would have done playing tackle, assuming he could have put on another 25lbs or so. He had the height, relatively long arms, and the athleticism/hips/knee bend to be an elite pass blocker. Hindsight is always 20/20.

He was definitely a unique athlete - started a few games at LB as a freshman, if I'm not mistaken, switched to TE as a sophomore, and had the frame to be an elite OT.

 

[stpeteirish]

He was a difference maker as a run blocker even though he had average, at best, technique. He could have been an absolute nightmare on the edge if he had another year with HH.

I've always wondered how he would have done playing tackle, assuming he could have put on another 25lbs or so. He had the height, relatively long arms, and the athleticism/hips/knee bend to be an elite pass blocker. Hindsight is always 20/20.

He was definitely a unique athlete - started a few games at LB as a freshman, if I'm not mistaken, switched to TE as a sophomore, and had the frame to be an elite OT.

Unique recruitment too. His final three teams, ND, USC, and Stanford wanted him at three different positions. USC wanted him as an OT, Stanford as a TE and ND recruited him as a DE/LB. Still seems debatable which was his best podition.

His parents named him Troy, guess he was USC's to lose.