2016 NFL Draft: Utah State linebacker Nick Vigil gives up final year of eligiblity

Utah State is losing a key defensive piece to the NFL Draft as linebacker Nick Vigil has announced he is giving up his final year of eligibility. He officially sent in his paperwork Thursday morning, but this was not an easy decision for Vigil to move on from Logan, Utah.

"I was really torn about my decision," Utah St LB Nick Vigil said. Vigil was the MWC’s #1 tackler.

— Joe Schad (@schadjoe) January 14, 2016

Vigil has been a key defensive player for the Aggies and his junior year was his most successful by totaling a career-high 140 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. For the second consecutive year he earned all-Mountain West first-team honors.

Vigil is currently ranked as the sixth inside linebacker prospect by NFL Draft Scout, but that is for the 2017 class. Walter Football is keeping track of the underclassman and they are surprised by this move for Vigil to come out early, and calling at a "bad move."

The Aggies linebacking corp takes a hit as Kyler Fackrell was a senior this past season and he is projected to be taken as early as the second round.

Vigil's older brother, Zach, went undrafted last year but he made it on the Miami Dolphins 53-man roster where he recorded 18 tackles, played in all 16 games and even started in two of those.