Stephen Leron Nicholas is an American football linebacker for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Falcons in the fourth round of the 2007 NFL draft. He played college football at South Florida. Nicholas played high school football at Robert E. Lee High School in Jacksonville, Florida. As a senior he was a class 3A all-state linebacker and was invited to play in the Shrine Bowl. Nicholas played college football at the University of South Florida. During his senior year he was a Big East first team selection. He finished his college career with... 326 tackles, 20 sacks, and a school record 53.5 tackles for loss. Nicholas was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the fourth round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He finished his rookie year with 37 tackles and one sack. In 2008, he saw action in all 16 games during the season. In 2009, He started 14 games, totaling 82 tackles, 3 sacks. He started his first career game against Miami on September 13. During his 2008 season, it was little known that Nicholas' 10 month-old son, Stephen Nicholas Jr., was waiting for a heart transplant at Children's Hospital Boston.
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