BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Union County High School seniors Johnte Nichols and Thomas Williams signed letters of intent to play football at the next level during a scholarship-signing ceremony on March 14 in the school’s media center.
“I’m just blessed,” said Williams, who’ll be attending Thomas University, an NAIA school in Thomasville, Georgia. “I came from nothing. I’m blessed to have had the opportunity to come this far, to get my degree from college and move on in life.”
Nichols, who’ll be attending Division III Madonna University in Livonia, Michigan, said his hard work and dedication paid off.
“It’s made me feel real good and especially made my family super proud,” Nichols said.
Nichols didn’t play his sophomore year, saying, “I just felt like it wasn’t for me anymore.”
However, it proved hard to stay away from football.
“I went to the games. I saw my brothers out there playing,” Nichols said. “I was like, ‘Man. I need to be out there.’”
UCHS Head Coach Andrew Thomas said, “He didn’t give up on it. He came back. I think the light really started shining for him in the weight room. He really developed a lot physically and mentally.”
Nichols, who’s 5-11, 190 pounds, started out playing corner, but lined up at linebacker this past season.
“He was willing to do whatever to help the team and put himself in that position,” Thomas said. “He didn’t pout and go, ‘I want to be a DB.’ He said, ‘Hey, this will get me on the field faster.’ Credit to him for that.”
Nichols was fifth on the team this past season with 38 tackles. He recorded 51 his junior season, which was third on the team.
“The last two years have been good,” Nichols said. “Coach Thomas believed in me and gave me a starting opportunity this year. I balled out. I just put in the work. It all paid off.”
Thomas said Nichols has the size, athletic ability and knack for finding the ball that were going to land him at some college program.
“If you’ve got size like that, and you’re a good athlete with good ball skills, people are going to find you,” Thomas said. “You’re going to give yourself an opportunity. That’s what he did.”
Nichols said Madonna was one of four schools at the top of his list, joining Averett, Brevard and Ottawa. He decided to go where he felt he was most wanted.
“The Madonna coach just kept in touch and kept showing me love,” Nichols said. “He called my mom almost every day to just say how much he really wanted me.”
Nichols plans to study business. He said Madonna’s top program is its business program.
He also likes the idea of being part of a big city, Livonia is a suburb of Western Detroit.
“I’m not really a country boy,” Nichols said.
Thomas said Nichols can play any position in the secondary, which is where Madonna coaches are initially thinking he’ll play, but can also continue playing linebacker at the next level.
“With his athletic ability and size, he can play several different positions,” Thomas said, adding, “When you have size and athletic ability, you can run around. It allows you to play multiple positions.”
Nichols said, “I don’t care where I play as long as I’m on the field.”
To make a successful transition to the college game, Nichols said he’ll have to continued working on his technique and work on improving his speed. He said he’s been working with UCHS Assistant Coach Craig Slocum on improving in those areas. Slocum, a UCHS alumnus, played defensive back at Troy University.
Riley Reed, another UCHS assistant coach, said the sky’s the limit for Nichols’ potential.
“Johnte’s best football is in front of him,” Reed said.
When imagining what it’ll feel like the first time he steps onto the field as a Madonna Crusader, Nichols said, “It’s going to feel good. All I want to do is play ball. I don’t care where it’s at. It could be in Alaska. As long as I’m playing ball, it doesn’t matter.”
Williams, a 5-11, 205-pound linebacker, is coming off a senior season in which he was hindered by an injury. He recorded 33 tackles, which was sixth best on the team.
He may not have been able to make the impact he wanted to, but when he was on the field, he gave it his all.
“He’s such a competitor,” Thomas said. “He was kind of our alpha male going into the season. His season didn’t turn out like he or we wanted it to because he got an injury early in the year. He missed a bunch of games. A high ankle sprain is tough to come back from.”
Williams played the inside and outside positions at linebacker. Thomas envisions him playing outside in college.
“I think he probably fits best on the edge,” Thomas said, adding, “When healthy, he’s a heck of a ball player. He has a chance to be on the field early for them.”
Williams said he was considering a few schools, but that Thomas gave him the best opportunity — an opportunity that had to do with more than just football.
“I like that it’s a military school,” Williams said. “I’ve always wanted to be in the military and do football at the same time. They gave me that opportunity.”
Williams will be a part of the Georgia National Guard while in school.
“It’s great,” Thomas said. “To be able to do that and to serve others — that’s just going to help him develop as a young man. I’m proud of him making that choice and knowing, ‘That’s a commitment I want to make.’”
It’s also a return to Williams’ home state. He lived in Wilcox County (a couple of hours away from Thomasville) before moving to Florida and playing for UCHS for three years.
Williams said he’ll always remember how he was accepted like family at UCHS.
“I loved it,” he said.
At Thomas University, Williams said he’s willing to play wherever coaches feel he’s the best fit. He said he needs to work in improving his speed, but he’s confident in the rest of his abilities.
“Everything else I have,” he said.
Reed said Williams has a competitive drive that served him well in multiple sports, including basketball, weightlifting and track and field.
“I think if (UCHS Head Baseball Coach) Jiwan (James) would let him, he’d go out there and pinch run for him in baseball, too,” Reed said. “He’s just competitive, fearless and tough.”
Thomas said, “As long as he stays committed and keeps that drive he had in high school, he’s going to succeed.”
When asked what it’ll feel like when he first plays as a Thomas Night Hawk, Williams said, “I might be nervous at first, but it’s going to feel great.”
