Virginia Tech has received a verbal commitment from Yosuah Nijman, who graduated from Columbia High School (Maplewood, N.J.) last spring and just finished up some postgraduate work at Fork Union Military Academy (VA) this fall. Nijman, a physical specimen at 6’6″, 275 pounds, plans to enroll at Tech next month.
The Tech coaches have expressed interest in Nijman as a prospect who could play on the offensive or defensive line. He primarily played defense this fall at FUMA and he was selected to the New Jersey North/South All-Star Classic last spring as a defensive lineman. Nijman has said he would like to play defense on the college level.
“We like him,” FUMA postgraduate head coach John Shuman said of Nijman in an interview last month. “We play him at defensive end. He came in rangy and a little soft, but he has worked hard, gotten stronger, and really played well [the last three weeks of the season].”
Nijman also considered offers from Miami and Temple before choosing Virginia Tech, where he made an official visit to the first weekend in November. He becomes the 19th commitment in Tech’s class of 2015.
Stay tuned for more on Nijman. In the meantime, check out his highlights from FUMA below.
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Welcome aboard and glad you can experience the fun of Blacksburg! We need all the help we can get on either line.
OL. We just haven’t told him yet.
Bubba Smith 6-7 265
yeah seems tall for DT. Anyway looks like great pickup and could be sloted on Oline. Dont like the came in soft commemnt. Im assuming hes talking muscle not heart.
Well, I think the gold standard for Offensive Linemen in the NFL that also happen to come through VT is Bruce Smith and Duane Brown. Duana Brown was a huge TE that was extremely athletic and nimble not some plodding offensive linemen.
If the Kid is too slow for Defense but has above average athletic ability for an offensive linemen, then he can do very well for himself. But just like with other recruits who’s best fit on college and hopefully NFL is on offense, then you let then try defense long enough for the point to be made in front of everyone.
I remember big Duane doing ridiculous sideline catches, toes in bounds…but then I remember him one on one with Mario Edwards. That’s when I think the deal was sealed. think about that year Duane came out, how stack the draft was with OTs. He was like 5 one taken in the first or second round. I’d be curious to see how all those ahead of him are doing now.
Bruce Smith was a DE.
meant to just say linemen.
Welcome Mr. Nijman! Glad to have you in the Hokie family!!
WELCOME TO VA TECH!!
Thanks Chris for your update…..We love seeing bits of good news. Check the spelling on the first name: I believe its Joshua versus Yosuah.
Yosuah Nijman – Hudl
Joshua Nijman – 247Sports
Must be brothers.
OL all the way. Appears a bit slow and plays way to high. That said, welcome to the Hokie nation. Glad to have you, Yosuah.
Thought so too…my exact analysis of the film for what that’s worth. Seemed to always be around the play, made some, contributed, but not the kind of player that dominates on defense. Athletic enough to play DL, not sure, looks like a really big guard to me
He will be an OL if he wants a shot at NFL
He looks VERY slow to me!!
He ran down several QBs , so he can’t be but so slow.
He says he wants to play defense, so I wonder if we said “yeah, sure, no problem” but we really know it’s going to be what you said.
First impression: at 6’6 275, not a chance he plays on our defensive line unless he gets incredibly faster. It’s almost impossible to play with the leverage Bud and Wiles demand at that size (especially that height). Would make a solid OT or OG though.
It’s pretty rare that we have a contributing DT over 6’2″ or DE over 270.