Elite OT Nichols Discusses Updated Visits, Vols New Staff, and More

Alpharetta, Ga.-- Addison Nichols is one of the top offensive line prospects in the country. Sunday, Nichols camped at the Under Armour Atlanta series yesterday and earned a ticket to the next stage. Over the past week, Nichols has started setting official visit dates with schools, which has created a buzz around his recruitment. He will start in June with a trip to Georgia, followed by Florida, USC, and ending with Ohio State. 

Tennessee is on the list of five schools Nichols is considering the most, but the Vols are not scheduled for a June visit. 

"The reasoning behind that was I have been to Tennessee the most," Nichols said. "So if July is closed off, I would prefer to get the places I haven't seen as much or at all first. If they do open up in July, I will take my fifth visit to Tennessee."

Nichols is familiar with Knoxville and the atmosphere around Tennessee's campus. The vast majority of his Junior year was impacted by COVID-19, but he most recently visited Knoxville for a game during his sophomore season. 

"With the schools I haven't seen just meeting the coaches, players, and feeling the environment just seeing those real-life connections," he said about what he is looking for on the visits. "Sometimes you can have a relationship over a screen, and it is completely different than in real life." 

Nichols has quickly worked to build a relationship with Tennessee in the virtual recruiting world, as he has connected well with offensive line coach Glen Elarbee. 

"I text coach Elarbee every day," Nichols said. "He is definitely one of my favorite coaches that I speak with, period. He is super personable, just a great guy. We will go over my film, and I really appreciate that from him."

The bond at Tennessee is more extensive than just Elarbee, as Tennessee's entire staff has made a strong impression on Nichols/ 

"I really like this coaching staff," Nichols told VR2 on SI. "With the whole thing that happened with the last coaching staff, Tennessee really took a dip on my last. After speaking with this coaching staff, seeing what they are about, connecting with them, and they are really back up there. That's why they are in my five again. I really like this staff and how they are trying to build this relationship with me."

I am really excited to get up there to see them, so I really want to get that official in July. It is a priority. 

Nichols is an eagle scout and a second-degree black belt. Something he feels has helped him on the field and will also help him work towards a decision. 

"Definitely just being able to experience a lot of different things and being able to know more than just football. With Tae Kwon Do being able to use my hands, feets, flexibility, and core strength just like that. Eagle scout just being able to know everything like that. Being able to broaden my mind and kind of know a little bit about everything. If you are just focusing on one thing, that's all you really know, and it is also helping me with football."

Nichols still hopes to make a decision sometime before his senior season, if all goes according to plan. 

featured image via Brooks Austin