Addison Nichols, the talented former Tennessee offensive lineman, is embarking on a new chapter in his college football journey after just one season with Arkansas. After entering the transfer portal in December, Nichols quickly made his mark by committing to SMU, right before the Mustangs’ season wrapped up with a tough loss to Penn State.
Nichols, who started all 12 games at center for Arkansas last season, posted an impressive 69.4 PFF grade across 769 snaps. Though his season started off rocky, the Georgia native showed remarkable improvement and growth, solidifying his spot as a key player on the O-line.
At Tennessee, Nichols made his debut in 2022 after redshirting, and during the 2023 season, he became a regular contributor, playing in 11 games, including 116 offensive snaps, with a standout 67 snaps in the regular-season finale against Vanderbilt.
Nichols was also one of the first major victories for head coach Josh Heupel, committing to Tennessee over powerhouses like North Carolina and Ohio State in 2021, making him the first four-star recruit to join Heupel’s squad.
Now, with two years of eligibility remaining, Nichols is ready to make an impact at SMU, a rising force in college football. Under the leadership of head coach Rhett Lashlee, the Mustangs have been on a winning streak, with back-to-back 11-win seasons and a historic College Football Playoff appearance in 2024 after a strong finish in the ACC Championship.
As Nichols takes his talents to SMU, it’s clear that he’s ready to help the Mustangs make waves on the national stage in the years to come!
