A true leader, LB Bradham boosting defense

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Nigel Bradham grew up just south of Tallahassee in Crawfordville and was a football star. Not just the best player on Wakulla Highs team but a five-star prospect who was arguably one of the nations top defensive players. Bradham had more than 40 scholarship offers, but really there was only one choice. A lifelong fan of Florida States football team, Bradham wanted to play his college football in Tallahassee and give his family and friends a chance to see him play on fall Saturdays. Its been great, Bradham said. Something I always dreamed of as a kid, to be able to play here and just have an impact on this university. Bradham has enjoyed a considerable impact on FSU, recording 295 career tackles as a four-year starter. He has 75 tackles this season -- leading the Seminoles by 24 -- and will likely become the first player since Marvin Jones in 1990-92 to lead FSU in tackles for three straight seasons. And while Bradham recorded 93- and 98-tackle seasons the past two years, he may have saved his best football for his senior season. Bradham recorded a career-high 13 tackles in the loss to Virginia, and he had 10 tackles a week earlier in the win over Miami. Often a quiet player off the field, Bradham turns the switch on each Saturday and delivers. But this year he has been more outspoken and embraced a leadership role. I see him playing so much better right now than he was at the beginning of the year, FSU coach Jimbo Fisher said. Hes really caught his niche. Not only his playing, its his ability to affect the other guys on the team. As a coach, I dont ever consider a guy a great player unless he affects the guys around them. We use great too much. When youre a great player, you affect everybody on the team. Bradham has had a positive affect on the defense every year, but maybe more this past season. FSUs defense struggled early in his career, falling to 100th in the nation in 2009. But the Seminoles improved dramatically last season, and in 2011 FSU is third in the nation against the run (84.3 yards allowed per game). The Seminoles are also seventh in scoring defense (15.9 points per game) and seventh in total defense (282 yards per game). The clock is winding down on Bradhams college career. FSU will finish out the regular season on Saturday at Florida, and then theres a bowl game left to play. Bradham and FSUs linebackers have the challenge on Saturday of limiting the damage by Floridas speedy tailbacks, Chris Rainey and Jeff Demps. Last year, FSU won 31-7 by holding Rainey to 73 rushing yards and Demps to 44 rushing yards. For Bradham, its important that the Seminoles finish 2011 with a win over Florida and then a bowl victory. Fighting for an eighth win over Florida and a ninth in a bowl game isnt what the players had in mind over the summer, but Bradham went through a 7-6 season in his freshman year of 2008. And he wants to give the younger Seminoles a better foundation. We have to finish up strong, Bradham said. Theres such an impact we can have on the younger guys. Fisher thinks Bradham has a bright future ahead in the NFL, too. His development as a linebacker, special-teams player and leader has shown NFL teams that he is a valuable asset. The last half of this season, you see not his personality changing but getting comfortable in his skin, about getting on people and leading, Fisher said. Im so glad to see it. I think it speaks volumes of him. I think it shows he also has a lot of football left in him at the next level.