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Inside Addison Nichols commitment to the Tennessee Volunteers

Chad Simmons updated head shotby:Chad Simmons•08/02/21•

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Chad Simmons / On3

Josh Heupel and the Tennessee Volunteers have landed a commitment from offensive tackle Addison Nichols. The 6-foot-5, 318 pound All-American committed to Tennessee over North Carolina and Ohio State.

The four-star has ties to the program in Knoxville and he grew up big fan of the school that plays inside Neyland Stadium, so this decision has a deep meaning to him and his family.

Here is a look into how the decision was made.

Dream School

“My interest in Tennessee started when I was very young,” said Nichols. “My mom is a Tennessee grad, my grandparents live right there in Knoxville, and I was always a big fan. We had a Tennessee flag and I grew up a Tennessee flag. I went to camps at Tennessee, I went to a few games growing up and I was around the campus all the time as a kid.

“For as long as I can remember I was a Tennessee fan. My dad went to Florida State, but he kind of accepted I was a Tennessee fan. I know the school like the back of my hand, I know a lot of people around the area and it was a school I always loved growing up.”

New Staff Effect

“It really wasn’t until the new staff came in that I started to seriously consider Tennessee,” said Nichols. “I was interested before, but it was not really a school I was looking to pursue until the staff changed. That made a big impact on me.

“Right when coach Heupel and his staff started they got in touch with me. They showed me a different side of things and I was a priority for them immediately. The first day they got in the office, coach Elarbee called, and we have been talking ever since.

“I really got to know coach Elarbee really well before the visits started. Then when I got to get on campus and meet coach Heupel face-to-face, learn more about the entire staff, and see the plan is when things really started to blossom for me with Tennessee.

“Once the visits started, my interest peaked in Tennessee and I started to think about them differently.”

Chad Simmons / On3

Rocky Top Prevails

“It was really, really hard in the end, but Tennessee just had extra,” said Nichols. “I picked them over North Carolina. Ohio State was third. I really liked USC too. But Tennessee just has the most for me and that is why I picked them.

“On the football side; it is in the SEC and a program with a lot of history. Then the connections I have built already with people at Tennessee, then the ones I know I can build to help me in the future was too much not too go to Tennessee.

“I decided to pursue that and I feel Tennessee will really help me be successful in life.”

Silent No More

Nichols said he went back and forth between Tennessee and North Carolina for a couple of weeks before making his decision while on an unofficial visit to Knoxville June 25. He was in the elevator going up to see coach Heupel and it hit him that he was ready to commit to Tennessee. He told the Volunteer coaches of his decision that night and he slept well since.