Another Trench Hog Commits: Nichols is No. 9 for Arkansas
Defensive end Isaiah Nichols didn't need long to think things over after receiving an offer from Arkansas on Sunday.
The 6-4, 265-pounder from nearby Springdale High made the call to head coach Bret Bielema Monday night and went public with his commitment to the Razorbacks Wednesday evening.
He became the Hogs' ninth verbal pledge and their second in an hour as Jonesboro (Ark.) offensive lineman Noah Gatlin also committed Wednesday evening.
Nichols held offers from Missouri, Mississippi State, Iowa State, Kansas State, Indiana and others, but said picking his dream school was a no-brainer.
"It feels great," Nichols said. "I woke up Sunday night after they offered and I was just hoping it wasn't a dream. That's all it had been up to that point, just a dream to play for the Razorbacks.
"Now I have the chance I've always wanted. I'm taking that chance and it feels great."
Nichols, who recorded 54 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 5 sacks and 19 quarterback hurries last fall, is still relatively new to the game of football having played in just 15 career games.
Springdale head coach and former Razorback quarterback Zak Clark says his star defensive end gets better every time he sees him in action.
"One thing that sticks out is that he's still so new to football," Clark said. "He moved back here to Springdale after I got the job and he had never played football. He just kind of showed up and we threw him on the bus. He was just excited to play football. He had no idea how good he could be.
"He had never lifted or done anything, and he was 6-2, 230 and could move. We knew potentially he was a college prospect, but you never know how a kid is going to develop. But he loves everything about it. He loves the weights, offseason, running. There's a lot of guys that want to be good, but the ones who enjoy working
"I don't know exactly where his ceiling is. He is very gifted athletically. He's explosive, he's strong and he keeps getting bigger and stronger."
Nichols continued to improve down the stretch last fall, and this spring he's been dominant against just about everyone he's faced.
"You look at his highlight tape and all of his best plays were late in the year," Clark said. "He absolutely dominated in the spring. I mean, we had to pull him out. He got upset with me because I held him out of the last two or three practices and the spring game. He was upset because he couldn't play, but when he was in there he'd hijack the whole practice.
"I had some people tell me how well he did this past weekend and, yeah, every time he takes the field he gets better. At what point does he max out? I have no idea, but I've never seen anything like him in terms of a guy who just keeps getting better."
As good as he's becoming on the field, Nichols is already a five-star person off the field.
He's the type of recruit that offers to return a recruiting writer's phone call at 11:30 p.m. when his shift ends at a local fireworks stand.
"He's a phenomenal kid and it starts at home," Clark said. "He's got great parents. He's no different than he was two years ago when he first came out for football. His mom is more concerned with how he's doing in the classroom, and I think that grounding really keeps him humble.
"Anytime there's such a high character kid like that, it's just rare. I'm sure college coaches get tired of high school coaches telling them what a great kid someone is, but that's the biggest thing that sticks out to everybody that comes to see him and once they meet him.
"He gets along with his teammates and really cares about them. So regardless of his athletic ability, he's just a great kid."
Nichols was recruited to Arkansas by defensive line coach John Scott Jr. and area recruiter Barry Lunney Jr. The Razorbacks now have two defensive line commitments in Nichols and four-star JUCO product Emmit Gooden, who announced in favor of the Hogs on Sunday.