Another young Tennessee offensive lineman looks to be heading out the exit door. Redshirt freshman Addison Nichols announced Monday evening that he plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal, according to a post on his Instagram account. The Top247 wrapped up his second season with the Vols by playing extensively in the win against regular-season finale against Vanderbilt after injuries impacted Tennessee’s offensive line.
The 6-foot-5, 327-pound Nichols went into his second season on Rocky Top competing for the backup center spot and the starting left guard position, but was outside of the rotation for most of the season. He appeared in all 12 games, getting snaps on offense in six games while also playing on the field goal and extra point protection units. Nichols played 116 snaps on offense in 2023 with 67 coming at left guard against Vanderbilt.
Nichols appeared in two games while redshirting in 2022, meaning he’ll have three seasons of eligibility remaining. He was rated a four-star prospect by 247Sports and ranked the No. 180 overall player and No. 8 interior offensive lineman in the 2022 class when he signed with Tennessee out of Greater Atlanta Christian School. Here is the message Nichols posted with a graphic on his social media accounts on Monday evening:
