“The Dragon” led the Golden Bears in tackles and was voted the team’s Most Valuable Player for three straight seasons from 1983-85 … a first-team All-Pac-10 selection as a senior … reeled off tackle totals of 141 in 1984, 167 in 1985 and 132 in 1986 … his 167 stops as a junior remains high on the Cal single-season record books, while his 501 career tackles rank high in school history … a fifth-round NFL draft pick by Pittsburgh in 1987, Nickerson played six seasons with the Steelers … joined Tampa Bay in 1993, becoming the Buccaneers’ No. 2 career tackle leader with 1,028 stops in seven campaigns … ended his pro career with brief stops in Jacksonville (2000-2001) and Green Bay (2002), was named to the 1990’s NFL All-Decade second team in 2000 … coached linebackers for the Chicago Bears (2007).
