FAYETTEVILLE — Springdale High senior defensive lineman Isaiah Nichols has received more than a dozen out-of-state offers and is now looking to land one near home this weekend.
Nichols (6-foot-3, 265 pounds) will be among the offensive and defensive line prospects on hand Sunday for Arkansas’ inaugural Trench Hog camp.
He has 13 offers but readily admits one from Arkansas would be special because of his roots. He was born in Warren and raised in both Little Rock and Springdale.
“I’ve grown up and lived in Arkansas all my life and I have always liked to watch the Hogs play,” Nichols said. “Just to be able to put myself in that position, it would be cool to be one of those guys to achieve the dream you had when you were little.”
Missouri, Mississippi State, Kansas State, Kansas, Louisiana Tech, Arkansas State, Central Florida, North Carolina State and Indiana are some of the schools that have offered Nichols.
Nichols had 54 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, six quarterback hurries, 2.5 sacks and one forced fumble last season. The defensive lineman said there are three schools he would love to add to his list.
“Arkansas, I am waiting for that one to come,” Nichols said. “I took a trip to Alabama and that would be a nice one, too. I would say Miami would be another one that I would like.”
He has unofficially visited Arkansas, Missouri and Alabama and plans to take other visits.
“I will see what other schools contact me and then get out and see them,” Nichols said. “Right now I am just focused on getting better and when the dead period comes for football that is where I will go out and take some visits.”
Nichols, who has played just two years of football, was impressed with Missouri’s coaching staff.
“I like how all their coaches are just down to earth and they don’t beat around the bush,” Nichols said. “They let you know what you mean to them. I like how the program is just a family and not just guys trying to collect a pay check.
“That’s not saying any other universities that I been to are, I’m just saying that I really admire that they care about the players first and put the players as a high priority.”