After a successful graduate season at Duke, former Princeton linebacker Ozzie Nicholas ’24 intends to continue his football career at the professional level. In an Instagram post from Jan. 9, Nicholas praised both Duke and Princeton before announcing his intent to declare for the 2025 NFL Draft.
“Declaring for the draft was really exciting as it’s been years of work and producing results that have accumulated to this point,” Nicholas told The Daily Princetonian. “I’m confident in what I’ve been able to put on tape and I’m optimistic it will get me a great opportunity to compete in the league.”
Nicholas, who hails from Encinitas, Calif., was scouted as a three-star recruit in high school. He was considered one of the best linebackers in the state, receiving first-team All-State honors and committing to Princeton in 2019. As is the case for most first-years on the football team, Nicholas saw little playing time as he learned to adjust to the academic and athletic rigor at Princeton.
“Princeton was a huge part of my development as a student and as an athlete,” Nicholas told the ‘Prince.’ “As a freshman, I had to adjust to the level of college football, as all the meetings, workouts, and practices were initially pretty difficult for me. This paired with the rigors of Princeton classes taught me how to manage my time and to be able to attack multiple challenges throughout each day.”
As his Princeton career progressed, Nicholas became a star linebacker and one of the most trusted players of head coach Bob Surace ’90. After a breakout junior season, in which he recorded 75 tackles, Surace named Nicholas a defensive captain for his final season with the Orange and Black. Nicholas rewarded his decision, leading the strongest defense in the Ivy League and becoming the first Tiger to record over 100 tackles since 2010.
Nicholas said his time at Princeton gave him the discipline required to train for the NFL. “Throughout my years at Princeton, I became able to not only endure the heavy schedule, but also to excel in both academics and athletics,” Nicholas explained to the ‘Prince.’ “Now, having a single task to focus on while preparing and training for the NFL, I’m able to find comfort in the long days and the discipline needed to be successful.”
Nicholas earned second-team All-Ivy honors in 2022, first-team All-Ivy honors in 2023, and in that same year was selected as a third-team FCS All-American. At Princeton, he built a legacy that all Tigers can admire.
Like many Princeton athletes who go on to star at other schools, Nicholas does not fit the mold of the typical college transfer. Many transfers are drawn away from their original school by the allure of more playing time, larger NIL contracts, or playing for a stronger program. For Nicholas, the Ivy League’s unique stance of only allowing undergraduates to play four years left him no choice but to transfer after graduating to use his final year of eligibility.
His search led him to Duke, where he played throughout the 2024–25 season. With the Blue Devils, Nicholas again faced a school that demands talents both on the field and in academics.
“The schedule was no less easy than it was at Princeton,” Nicholas told the ‘Prince.’ ”The academics at both universities required hard work and significant time spent, and were equally as valuable to my learning and future.”
Duke’s football team, however, plays a longer schedule against tougher opponents. The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), to which Duke belongs, is one of the four strongest conferences in the nation. At Duke, Nicholas faced teams loaded with five-star recruits and future NFL talent. Coming from Princeton, an adjustment was needed.
“What was most different at Duke was that the level of play required me to step up my own game, meaning more hours watching film and in the athletic training room,” Nicholas told the ‘Prince.’
As a Blue Devil, Nicholas fit right in with Duke’s strong defense, finishing eighth in the ACC in total tackles and forcing two fumbles, recovering two more. Duke’s defense led the ACC in fumbles forced and recovered, thanks in no small part to Nicholas.
Following a standout performance against Florida State University on Oct. 18, Nicholas showcased his skills by executing back-to-back defensive snaps, forcing a fumble, and intercepting a pass, all while recording nine tackles. His impressive display led him to be recognized as the ACC Linebacker of that Week.
Duke's defense is EVERYWHERE.
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) October 19, 2024
Florida State is the first FBS team with 3️⃣ turnovers on 3️⃣ consecutive plays this season 😳 pic.twitter.com/o7VbDFEHcE
After starring in the Ivy League and ACC, Nicholas sets his sights higher by declaring for the NFL Draft. If drafted, Nicholas will be the first Princeton football alum taken since Andrei Iosivas ’23 was selected in the 2023 NFL Draft. Iosivas, a former track athlete and wide receiver, has excelled in short-yardage situations with the Cincinnati Bengals.
“I’ve talked to Andrei some, he’s a great resource because of his massive success since he’s been in the league,” Nicholas told the ‘Prince.’ “We talked about choosing an agent and what to expect for my rookie year. He’s an incredible player and teammate that I wish to emulate. He was a guy who was able to crush his combine and pro day, which put him in a great situation with the Bengals.”
Far from the age of the bruising enforcers who dominated the linebacker position in football past, the rise of mobile quarterbacks and rapid-fire, screen-heavy offenses demands linebackers who excel in run defense and pass coverage. In today’s game, teams value linebackers with the speed necessary to catch a ball carrier racing downfield. As such, Nicholas displays many of the traits necessary to succeed in today’s NFL, racking up the tackles in the run game and forcing turnovers in open space.
Nicholas’ quick playstyle gives him the tools to turn scouts’ heads, though he is not currently a highly-touted early round draft prospect. If Nicholas is drafted, he will profile as a late-round selection made by a team looking to round out their linebacker corps with a solid, high-floor performer.
To get an edge in the draft process, Nicholas is preparing for pro day at Duke, where NFL scouts and team officials are invited to visit, watch top prospects perform drills, and meet with players. For Nicholas, a great pro day could be the difference between being drafted or looking for a deal as an undrafted free agent.
“I’m currently training at Exos in Canton, Georgia and working with Roy Holms, a trainer I’ve known since my high school days in San Diego. It’s a great opportunity to get bigger, faster, and stronger while also competing and working out with other top athletes from across the country,” Nicholas told the ‘Prince.’ “In the next coming months I’m entirely focused on training for my pro day.”
Joe Uglialoro is an assistant Sports editor for the 'Prince.’
Please send corrections to corrections[at]dailyprincetonian.com.
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