May 10, 2014
Final Bio
| O’Brien and Smith on Nix III
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Former University of Notre Dame defensive lineman Louis Nix III was selected with the 83rd overall pick (19th choice of round three) in the 2014 NFL Draft by the Houston Texans and was the fourth Fighting Irish player taken in this year’s draft.
Nix III is the 29th defensive lineman in school history to be taken in the first three rounds of the NFL draft. The first-round picks include Walt Patulski (first overall by the Buffalo Bills in 1972), Mike McCoy (second overall by the Green Bay Packers in 1970), Steve Niehaus (second overall by the Seattle Seahawks in 1976), Kevin Hardy (seventh overall by the New Orleans Saints in 1968), Bryant Young (seventh overall by the San Francisco 49ers in 1994), Ross Browner (eighth overall by the Cincinnati Bengals in 1978), Mike Fanning (ninth overall by the Los Angeles Rams in 1975), Alan Page (15th overall by the Minnesota Vikings in 1967), Eric Dorsey (19th overall by the New York Giants in 1986) and Mike Kadish (25th overall by the Miami Dolphins in 1972). The second-round selections include Bob Toneff (22nd overall by the San Francisco 49ers in 1952), Greg Marx (39th overall by the Atlanta Falcons in 1973), Willie Fry (49th overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1978), Bob Golic (52nd overall by the New England Patriots in 1979), Mike Gann (45th overall by the Atlanta Falcons in 1985), Jeff Alm (41st overall by the Houston Oilers in 1990), Chris Zorich (49th overall by the Chicago Bears in 1991), Anthony Weaver (52nd overall by the Baltimore Ravens in 2002), Victor Abiamiri (57th overall by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2007), Trevor Laws (47th overall by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2008) and Stephon Tuitt (46th overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers). The third-round picks include Tony Pasquesi (32nd overall by the Chicago Cardinals in 1952), Tom Rhoads (70th overall by the Buffalo Bills in 1967), Fred Swendsen (53rd overall by the Buffalo Bills in 1972), Jim Flanigan (74th overall by the Chicago Bears in 1994), Bertrand Berry (86th overall by the Indianapolis Colts in 1997) and Justin Tuck (74th overall by the New York Giants in 2005).
Nix III becomes the first Notre Dame player drafted by Houston since 2004 when the Texans selected Glenn Earl and Vontez Duff in the fourth and sixth round, respectively.
Nix III started in 30 of his 34 career games for the Irish. He collected 122 total tackles, including 14.0 for loss and 2.5 sacks. Nix III added eight passes defended and one forced fumble.
Nix III started each of the first seven games in 2013 but then played (and started) only one of the final six contests due to a knee injury. He finished the ’13 campaign with 27 tackles, two for loss and a pair of pass breakups. Nix III made five tackles at Pittsburgh (Nov. 9) including one for a loss in his final collegiate action. He registered a season-high six tackles and broke up a pass against Michigan State (Sept. 21).
Nix III was a force in the middle of the Irish defense in 2012, helping Notre Dame to the BCS National Championship Game. He collected 50 tackles, including 7.5 for loss and two sacks. Nix III forced a fumble and added four pass break ups. The ’12 defense led the nation in two different categories and ranked among the top 10 in 10 more, including total rushing touchdowns allowed (four, 1st), red-zone rushing touchdowns allowed (four, t-1st), scoring defense (12.77, 2nd), points allowed per red-zone trip (3.4, 2nd), passing yards/completion (9.95, 2nd), red-zone touchdowns allowed percentage (34.21%, 3rd), total red-zone touchdowns allowed (13, t-3rd), red-zone points allowed (130, 4th), total passing touchdowns (10, t-6th), total defense (305.46, 7th), red-zone defense (68.4%, t-7th) and first downs/allowed (17.00, t-8th).
Notre Dame allowed just 12.77 points per game in `12. The Irish were one of only three FBS top-10 scoring defenses to exclusively face FBS competition. Notre Dame allowed only 16 touchdowns (15 offensive) – four fewer TDs than any other FBS school. The Irish allowed a school-record 166 points over their 13 games. Notre Dame held six opponents without an offensive TD and nine foes to one or fewer offensive TDs.
CAREER-HIGHS
Tackles: 7, Wake Forest, Nov. 17, 2012 (1-6)
Sacks: 1.5, Purdue, Sept. 8, 2012 (1-1)
Tackles for loss: 2.0, vs. Alabama, Jan. 7, 2013 (2-0)
Fumbles forced: 1, Michigan, Sept. 22, 2012
Pass breakups: 2, Purdue, Sept. 8, 2012
HONORS & AWARDS
- Participated in the 2014 Quicken Loans All-Star Challenge
- Bednarick Award Watch List (2013)
- Maxwell Award Watch List (2013)
- Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List (2013)
- Outland Trophy Watch List (2013)
- Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List (2013)
- Lindy’s Preseason First Team All-American (2013)
- Phil Steele Preseason First Team All-American (2013)
- Sports Illustrated Preseason Second Team All-American (2013)
- CBSSports.com Preseason First Team All-American (2013)
- 2012 Notre Dame Moose Krause Defensive Lineman of the Year
- 2012 CBSSports.com Third Team All-American
— ND —