'Sweet Lew' Nichols introduces himself with big game against NIU
Jim McElwain sat down in front of a computer to take questions. Not coincidentally, the first one he gets is about his backup running back.
He was ready for it. Immediately, Central Michigan's second-year coach grins when he's asked about redshirt freshman Lew Nichols.
"Sweet Lew did a good job, man," McElwain said. "He hit it up in there. He's a guy that we knew was going to carry a big load for us this year."
Outside the Chippewa locker room, not many can say they expected Nichols to do what he did Nov. 11 at Northern Illinois. After all, junior Kobe Lewis was the talk of CMU's season-opening win over Ohio, carrying the ball 28 times. Sure, Nichols was expected to play, however it looked like it would be in a limited role behind Lewis.
Against Northern Illinois, the Detroit native burst onto the scene. Establishing himself as a threat in both the passing and run game, Nichols gives the Chippewas another dimension within their offense. He finished with 150 total yards, including a team-high 91 on the ground, on 14 touches. He set career highs in almost every category.
The back-and-forth between he and Lewis gives CMU a dynamic very similar to what it had last year in Lewis and Jonathan Ward.
This dynamic can make a good team a great team.
After the game, Nichols was quick to deflect praise to his offensive line, saying he "just ran." However, a closer look reveals the breakaway speed that Nichols possesses. It was there in a limited sample size last year, when he carried the ball 19 times for 89 yards in the four games he was able to play while keeping his redshirt.
Yet, Wednesday night, he was able to put his talents on full display.
There Nichols was, catching a pass out of the backfield and showing off his straight-line speed, out running a Huskie defender 58 yards up the sideline for his first career score. Two plays into the fourth quarter, Nichols made a cut and burst through a gap in the defense, flashing his agility on the way to a 36-yard score.
"I feel real good," Nichols said. "I've been working hard. Feel real good."
After committing to the Chippewas, and staying through the program's coaching change, Nichols reached a moment of vindication with his performance. His coaches aren't surprised, and neither is he. Add his performance with the emergence of junior Darius Bracy, who has converted from defensive back, and the Chippewas have a solid stable of backs.
One that gives McElwain options at any given time.
"I think that's a group that we're gonna be able to lean on a little bit," McElwain said.
