Tuesday, February 9, 2010

JSU Signee Jeremy Nicholson

Here is a great article from the BrewtonStandard.com on JSU signee Jeremy Nicholson. Nicholson was a Rivals 3 Star Player that had offers from many bigger schools. He joins WS Neal grads Cory Freeman and Justin Howard on the team.

WSN’s Nicholson signs football scholarship



Adam Robinson | The Brewton Standard A host of family, friends, teachers, faculty, and coaches were in attendance as W.S. Neal High School senior Eagle football player Jeremy Nicholson signed a football scholarship to play at Jacksonville State University Thursday. Nicholson originally signed on Wednesday, which was National Signing Day, but a ceremony was held Thursday at the school library. At the signing were front from left, Nicholson’s mother Betty Nicholson, Nicholson, grandmother Bernadine Betts, and grandfather Eugene Betts. Back from left, W.S. Neal head football coach and athletic director Kevin Jordan, coach Coy Campbell, coach Dewan Salter, coach Jeff Haney, coach Derek Roberts, and coach Robbie Grace.
By Adam Robinson
sports editor
Published:
Monday, February 8, 2010 10:10 AM CST
W.S. Neal High School senior football player Jeremy Nicholson signed his letter of intent Thursday to play football for the Jacksonville State University Gamecocks.

Nicholson, a four-year football player at the school, is also a member of the basketball team and track team. He posted 639 yards on 75 rushes his senior season despite missing a couple of games due to injury. Nicholson had an average of 8.5 rushing yards per carry and scored nine of the Eagles 14 rushing touchdowns during the 2009 season and 17 total.

Along with running back, Nicholson was kick and punt returner where he had several runbacks for touchdown and caught six passes this season at running back for 36 total yards.

Nicholson was a 2008 state champion on the Eagle track team as a hurdler.

“I feel really good about signing the scholarship,” Nicholson said. “Jacksonville is not really a big town and I like the size of the town. I feel like I have worked really hard to earn this and I feel really good about it.”

Nicholson said Jacksonville State has plans to play wide receiver.

“I will play there, but they will probably move me around a lot,” Nicholson said. “Coach asked me how I liked running back and he said they would probably move me around just to get me a lot of touches and looks with the ball.”

First year head football coach Kevin Jordan said Nicholson was a very instrumental part in the Eagle football team in a lot of ways.

“First and foremost, he has been a leader on and off the field,” Jordan said. “He has always been a very good student and his academic side of it has been very important to him. So not only has he been a leader on the field, but in the classroom as well. I can honestly say that he has been the hardest worker that we have had.

“I am talking about from the weight room to practice, he works so hard and more than anyone I have every been around.”

Jordan said that in practice sometimes, you have certain kids that will pick it up or to go full speed on their reps and that kind of thing and that has never been an issue with Jeremy.

“He has always a leader in that respect and always goes full speed,” Jordan said. “It is good when the guy you are counting on is one of those players. So, he has always been that type of player ever since we got him in the ninth grade.

“Everything that he has accomplished, he has deserved it. So we are very proud of him.”

From his sophomore season to his senior season, Nicholson totaled 131 rushes for 868 and 10 touchdowns and totaled 61 catches for 950 yards and 10 carries.

According to Jacksonville State University’s athletic website, head football coach Jack Crowe called the 2010 Jacksonville State University signees the best he has ever signed.

“We’re very excited about the class that we’ve signed,” Crowe said on the website. “We feel like we’ve met all our needs for next season and the years to follow with this talented group of recruits.”

Along with W.S. Neal’s Nicholson, the Gamecocks signed the 2009 Mr. Football from the state of Alabama Coty Blanchard from class 4A state champion Cherokee County.

Jacksonville State finished with the best record in the Ohio Valley Conference with an 8-3 record last season and finished with a final national ranking of 16th.

Nicholson joins Cory Freeman and Justin Howard as other W.S. Neal High School Eagles who have went on to play with the Gamecocks.

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