RB Lew Nichols III, GB (2 Viewers)

[BobbyLayne]

Kenneth Walker III no longer leads the NCAA in rushing. As of this week, that belongs to another running back in Michigan.

Lew Nichols of Central Michigan has been on a tear - if you've been watching MacAction on Wednesday nights, he has been dominating.. 267-1516-14 in 11 games.

Last 4:

22-192-2

26-163-2

43-215-4

32-219-3

Also has 36 receptions on the year.

5'10" 220 ran the 40 in 4.50 as a h.s. senior.

Played a handful of games in 2019 and 2020. Considered a redshirt Freshman but perfectly embodies pandemic football. He could declare this year or play 3 more years. 2019 he played 4 games and had 19-84, last year had 78-508-4 & 10-109-2.

There's actually more h.s. tape on YouTube than his CMU games. Was a 3 star recruit at Cass Tech (Detroit PSL) 84-1078-23 his senior year but barely made the states top 25. He was 195 when he graduated so he's bulked up a bit the last 3 years.

Anyway, most of that has been against the future gym teachers of America. Versus LSU he went 12-18-0 & 5-19-0. In the season opener at Missouri, had 19-135-1 and 4-20-0.b From what I have seen he seems like a patient runner who waits for the play to develop and when he cuts he has tremendous burst. Very good long speed.

Doesn't seem to be on anyone's radar yet. Just one to tuck away, let's see how he does at Senior Bowl / Combine. Probably headed for UDFA obscurity but you never know, eh.

 

[Faust]

LEW NICHOLS III DOMINATING CFB ON THE GROUND

 

[Faust]

CMU’s Lew Nichols III not a Doak Walker semifinalist despite nation-leading 1,516 yards rushing

 

[Team Smokin']

Fire Up Chips! 

Got my Masters degree at CMU. 

 

[Faust]

Central Michigan redshirt sophomore RB Lew Nichols rushed 44 times for 192 yards and a touchdown in Central Michigan's 31-10 win over Eastern Michigan.

Nichols (5'10"/190) has been a beast all year getting, a ridiculous workload, but his 44 carries was a season high, even for him. He was grinding and grinding and grinding, all the way to Central Michigan's win. He's averaged 200 yards in his last three games, and is now up over 1700 yards rushing. He added to his touchdown total (15 now) in the fourth quarter, putting the dagger into Eastern Michigan with a 33-yard touchdown, which was also his longest of the day. He shoved off a tackler and bounced it out to the left sideline before racing down the sideline. He's put in the work, and Central Michigan is going bowling and also taking home the Michigan MAC Trophy. 

Nov 26, 2021, 6:43 PM ET

 

[BobbyLayne]

Central Michigan redshirt sophomore RB Lew Nichols rushed 44 times for 192 yards and a touchdown in Central Michigan's 31-10 win over Eastern Michigan.

Nichols (5'10"/190) has been a beast all year getting, a ridiculous workload, but his 44 carries was a season high, even for him. He was grinding and grinding and grinding, all the way to Central Michigan's win. He's averaged 200 yards in his last three games, and is now up over 1700 yards rushing. He added to his touchdown total (15 now) in the fourth quarter, putting the dagger into Eastern Michigan with a 33-yard touchdown, which was also his longest of the day. He shoved off a tackler and bounced it out to the left sideline before racing down the sideline. He's put in the work, and Central Michigan is going bowling and also taking home the Michigan MAC Trophy. 

Nov 26, 2021, 6:43 PM ET

5'10" 220 per the CMU athletic department roster

 

[BobbyLayne]

33 yard TD versus Eastern Michigan

Solidly built. Stiffs arms the LB in the hole, bounces outside and blows by everyone.

66 yard TD versus Ball State

Excellent blocking here - the Chips have two lineman who will be draft prospects in April - but check out the crisp cut, juke, and acceleration.

12 yard power TD versus Kent State

Bounces right when the lane clogs up, runs through an arm tackler, and then absolutely destroys the safety. That's a pancake.

 

[BobbyLayne]

311-1708-15 and 38-300-2 through 12 G

I know a lot of sites don't start ramping up next year's draft prospects until after the bowl season (e.g., after we know who has declared) but my goodness this guy is off everyone's radar right now. 2000 YFS and he's a complete unknown.

Half the websites have his last game at 192 yards and half have it at 194. What century are we in again?

He's got NFL size, NFL speed, burst, power, decisive cuts, and a very good pass catcher. Reminds me of Kareem Hunt.

ETA: took me a week to find this, but ticks the early breakout box as well. Just turned 20 in August.

 

[Faust]

Central Michigan redshirt sophomore RB Lew Nichols was named as the MAC Offensive Player of the Year on Wednesday.

Nichols (5'10/190) is the nation's leading rusher with 1,708 yards and has 15 touchdowns. He also caught 38 passes for 300 yards and two scores, displaying great versatility for the Chippewas, who won eight games for the third time in five seasons. Per Pro Football Focus, Nichols was the 18th highest-graded running back at 88.4, and forced 53 missed tackles on the season, which also ranks as the 18th most in the nation. His 24 breakaway runs (runs of 15+ yards) ranked second behind Michigan State's Kenneth Walker.

SOURCE: Detroit Free Press

Dec 1, 2021, 2:12 PM ET

 

[Faust]

Central Michigan sophomore RB Lew Nichols was among the standouts in the Chippewas' 24-21 Sun Bowl win over Washington State.

Nichols (5'10/190) finished out the regular season as the MAC Offensive Player of the Year and showed why he was just that in his team's Sun Bowl victory Friday. Nichols carried the ball 30 times for 138 yards and one touchdown, making him the only player outside of quarterback Daniel Richardson to put up more than 100 offensive yards in the contest.

Dec 31, 2021, 5:33 PM ET

 

[BobbyLayne]

First extended look at him, before yesterday I had only seen highlights. He wasn't as overpowering as he has looked in MAC games, where he looks like Nick Chubb. Early on he was stopped on three different third and short runs. On several other plays, though, he did a nice job of bouncing off or eluding the first tackler. The line play was not as good as it's been most of the year bc both Senior tackles opted out (they have an All-American LT, Bernhard Raimann, who will be at the Senior Bowl.) He looked impressive on a couple long runs - think it was a 38 yard run in the 2nd Quarter and a 36 yard screen pass late in the third quarter, and both plays highlighted his speed. The announcers compared him to Le'Veon Bell bc he is very patient waiting for his blocks to develop. Once he sees a crease he has tremendous burst to get to the second level quickly,

Haven't seen anything that indicates he is going to declare this year. He is a redshirt Freshman last year but bc of COVID rules he was a repeat redshirt Freshman - could either enter the draft or stay three more years. Think it's in his best interest to put in another year as people are just now starting to discover him. There is a lot to like about him, could be another Kareem Hunt (Toledo alum), very good all around back.

To be continued...

 

[BobbyLayne]

**fingers crossed**

IDK & someone else likely does….

When

a) does the transfer window close?

b) is/was the deadline to declare for the NFL draft?

 

[Faust]

@BobbyLayne

Coaches worry tampering, inducements, 24/7 free agency have turned transfer portal into Wild West

Excerpt:

There are no transfer portal issues for Lew Nichols III. The nation's leading rusher is staying put.

"I love it here," said Central Michigan's rising redshirt junior. "I'm just kind of a quiet, laid-back guy."

Mount Pleasant, Michigan, might be the perfect place for the Detroit native after he rushed for 1,848 yards last season. That hasn't kept several larger schools from trying to convince Nichols to enter the transfer portal. 

Every school in the SEC, among others, wants Nichols, one source told CBS Sports. Others confirmed there's been heavy interest in the Chippewas star rusher.

"I don't think it is [exaggerated]," said a person close to the Central Michigan program. 

The reaction to Nichols' breakout season is somehow less of a story than the standout running back staying put. That's how fluid the portal has become.

 

[BobbyLayne]

Tough sledding in Stillwater last night. OSU was up 51-15 two plays into the second half, the Chippewas outscored them 29-7 thereafter. Nichols was hit in the backfield often - both starting OT from 2021 were Day Two selections in this years draft - but he did manage a couple TDs in the 4th.

26-72-2 added 6 catches for 26

Snapped a streak of 8 straight games 100 yard games for past seasons rushing leader. Home games VS South Alabama & Bucknell should get him back on track. Discouraging to see him struggle when facing stiffer competition though.

15 yard TD run

 

[Faust]

Matt Waldman @MattWaldman

Lew Nichols III has a Marion Barber-like physicality. That includes taking what you dish out. #NFLDraft buff.ly/3WCB3uO

https://twitter.com/mattwaldman/status/1617705755607502848?s=21

 

[Faust]

NFL Draft Profile: Lew Nichols III, Running Back, Central Michigan Chippewas

 

[Faust]

Packers selected Central Michigan RB Lew Nichols with the No. 235 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.​

Nichols (5’10/222) didn’t earn a Combine invite and only participated in the bench press and vertical at CMU’s pro day. After breaking out with a 341-1,848-16 rushing line in 2021, Nichols’ production dropped to a disappointing 177-601-6 (3.4 YPC) last season – in part due to injury. While he has ideal size for an early-down back, Nichols lacks breakaway speed and is average at best in gaining yards after contact. Far from an elite pass-catcher, Nichols did total 70 receptions for 557 yards in his career but will lose work to better pass-catchers in Green Bay. Nichols’ ability to grind out the tough yards could be enough to earn him a few eventual carries if he makes the 53-man roster, but he doesn't profile as a big part of the Pack's future plans.
Apr 29, 2023, 6:06 PM ET