William Nichols '16 Recruiting Profile

My name is William Nichols and I am a 6'4" kicker from Aldie, Virginia.  I am a senior and was the starting kicker for the John Champe High School varsity team for all 4 years.  My team finished the season 11-1 after losing in the third round of the playoffs.  During the Region quarter final game, I kicked the game winning field goal with 36 seconds left in the game.  That was the third time during my high school career that I kicked the game winner in the last seconds of the game.  I had success under pressure my sophomore year winning one game with a field goal in OT and another with 26 seconds left in the game.  While I didn't have to kick to win a game in the last seconds as a junior, I was 4/4 on my field goals with a 37 yard kick my longest, including one in a play-off game and one that was the difference in the game.  

For my high school career, I was 67/72 on my PATs (29/29 my senior year) and was 8/10 on my field goals with a 37 yard kick my longest.  During my senior season, I had a 46 yard punt to the 1-foot line that led to a safety the next play, 4 successful onside kicks, and 5 touchbacks. As the kicker, I also had a solo tackle and two assisted tackles on three kick-off returns.  After completing a 10-0 regular season, I was selected to 2nd Team All-Conference 22.  

During the summer before my senior year, I kicked in a regional 7-on-7 competition where the snapper, holder, and kicker run onto the field attempting three kicks at the hashes and in center of the field – all in 30 seconds.  I tied for second and made all three of my 40 yard attempts from the ground and qualified for the National tournament.

I have a 3.58 GPA, including four Honors courses my sophomore year, three AP classes plus German 5 my junior year, and AP classes in Calculus and German my senior year.

I was inspired to become a kicker by my first cousin, Mason Crosby, who is the kicker for the Green Bay Packers.  I worked with Mason before my freshman year to develop my kicking skills.  Like Mason, I started as a soccer player before turning to football.  I still play soccer on an NCSL Division 2 travel team.  I was on the varsity soccer team for my high school (we play in the spring) for three years and was selected first team All-Conference my junior year.  For my senior year spring season, I switched to Track & Field, where I run mostly the 100m dash, the 110m hurdles, and the 4 X 100 relay,  My PR for the 100m at a meet is 10.87 sec, and our 4 X 100 team ran it in 43.35, beating last year's state winner's time.  While I have not decided on a college major, I am interested in math and engineering.  I would like to attend a university with an outstanding academic reputation.