Nichol attended Lowell High School in Lowell, Michigan. After a good freshman season, Nichol was promoted to the varsity team for the playoffs and saw some playing time as a cornerback in a blowout. Nichol had a breakout season as a sophomore. He threw for 2,125 yards and 26 touchdowns in Lowell's veer offense and led the team to a state championship. His success led to him being heavily recruited by several teams in the Big Ten Conference as well as the University of Notre Dame. In July 2005, Nichol committed to play for the Michigan State UniversitySpartans. Nichol also participated in the ESPN RISE Elite 11 quarterback camp. After his commitment, the Spartans went 9-14 and head coach John L. Smith was fired. As a result, Nichol backed out of his commitment with the Spartans and committed to the University of Oklahoma, a school that expressed strong interest in him after his de-commitment.[1] In his senior year, Nichol passed for 2,225 yards and 31 touchdowns.[2] As a three-year starter, Nichol won 33 games with three losses. He passed for 6,550 yards and 76 touchdowns and ran for 3,100 yards and 58 touchdowns in his high school career.[3] He was an all-state selection three times.[4] Nichol was ranked as the sixth best dual-threat quarterback in the country out of high school by Rivals.com.[3]Scout.com ranked him the 22nd best high school quarterback overall.[5]
College careerEdit
Freshman seasonEdit
At Oklahoma, Nichol competed against redshirt freshman Sam Bradford and junior Joey Halzle for the starting quarterback position during spring practices in 2007.[6] After a scrimmage game, Bradford was named the starter.[7] During the year, Nichol was the third-string quarterback, playing in three games and completing two of seven passes for 15 yards. After the season, Nichol transferred to Michigan State, the school he had originally committed to while back in high school. By NCAA rule, Nichol had to sit out the 2008 season.[3]
Sophomore seasonEdit
Before the 2009 season, Nichol competed against sophomore Kirk Cousins for the starting quarterback position.[8] Cousins started the first game with Nichol receiving playing time in which he threw two touchdown passes in a victory over the Montana State Bobcats.[9] On October 10, 2009, Nichol made his first career start against the Illinois Fighting Illini. He completed 13 of 25 passes for 179 yards and one interception in a victory.[10] In preparation for the 2010 Alamo Bowl, Nichol changed over to the wide-receiver position, catching two passes for 11 yards and also scored his first career rushing touchdown against the Red Raiders, with a 7-yard run out of the wildcat formation in the third quarter.
Junior seasonEdit
He was an Academic All-Big Ten selection and appeared in all 13 games in 2010, including eight starts. Ranked fifth on the team with 22 receptions for 262 yards (11.9 avg.), caught at least one pass in 11 games, and also completed 4-of-7 passes for 62 yards and two scores. With Kirk Cousins and Andrew Maxwell sidelined with injuries vs. No. 15 Alabama in the 2011 Capital One Bowl, he took snaps at quarterback in the fourth quarter and hit 2-of-5 throws for 56 yards, including a 49-yard TD strike to Bennie Fowler, Keith also had three catches for 22 yards against the Crimson Tide. His 3-yard TD toss to Charlie Gantt with 8:31 left in the fourth quarter at Penn State gave MSU a 28-10 lead and proved to be the game winner as the Spartans held on for a 28-22 victory to clinch a share of the 2010 Big Ten Championship, caught three passes for 19 yards vs. Purdue, and set career highs in receptions (4) and receiving yards (51) at Northwestern, including two catches for 34 yards on MSU's game-winning touchdown drive in the fourth quarter. His career-long 42-yard grab from Cousins at No. 18 Michigan set up Larry Caper's 8-yard TD run late in the third quarter, hauled in three passes for 30 yards vs. No. 11 Wisconsin, caught two passes for 32 yards in the season opener vs. Western Michigan, including his first career touchdown reception, a 20-yard grab from Cousins early in the second quarter.
Senior seasonEdit
Nichol played an important role as receiver for the Spartans during the 2011 season. He caught a hail mary touchdown pass on the final play against No. 6 Wisconsin, securing the Spartans victory and went on to win the Big Ten Legends Division and will have a rematch against No. 15 Wisconsin in the 2011 Big Ten Championship Game.[11] He help lead the Spartans to a comeback win against No. 16 Georgia in the 2012 Outback Bowl.
On May 3, 2012, Nichol joined with the Washington Redskins as an undrafted free agent on a try-out basis.[12] The next day, it was reported that he was attending the Redskins' rookie mini-camp, which reunited him with Michigan State teammate, Kirk Cousins.[13] Nichol was not offered a contract at the end of the mini-camp.[14][15] He later attended rookie mini-camp with the Chicago Bears and worked out for the Detroit Lions, but wasn't offered a contract by either team.[16]
ReferencesEdit
^Evans, Thayer (2006-12-22). . Scout.com. Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2009-12-23.
^ abcRexrode, Joe (2008-05-21). "Ex-Lowell QB decides MSU is the right place | lansingstatejournal.com". Lansing State Journal. Archived from the original on 2013-01-27. Retrieved 2009-12-23.
^Slagter, John (2009-03-25). "Michigan State quarterbacks Kirk Cousins, Keith Nichol engage in friendly competition". MLive.com. Retrieved 2009-12-23.
^"Ex-Michigan State receiver Keith Nichol signs with Redskins". DetroitNews.com. May 3, 2012. Retrieved 2012-05-03.[permanent dead link]
^Sipple, George (May 4, 2012). "Michigan State WR Keith Nichol, on Redskins: 'They like my toughness'". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2012-05-04.
^Calloway, Brian (May 9, 2012). "MSU football's Nichol pleased with Redskins mini-camp". LansingStateJournal.com. Retrieved 2012-05-09.[permanent dead link]
^. Archived from the original on 2013-11-03. Retrieved 2015-11-15.
^VanOchten, Brian (June 28, 2012). "After several tryouts, former Michigan State receiver Keith Nichol confident he will get shot at NFL training camp". MLive.com. Retrieved 2012-07-28.
External linksEdit
Nichol Bio at official web-site of Michigan State Spartans Football
keith, nichol, born, december, 1988, former, wide, receiver, quarterback, played, college, football, university, oklahoma, michigan, state, university, 6position, wide, receiverpersonal, informationborn, 1988, december, 1988, lowell, michigan, height, weight, . Keith Nichol born December 24 1988 is a former wide receiver and quarterback He played college football for the University of Oklahoma and Michigan State University Keith NicholNo 7 6Position Wide receiverPersonal informationBorn 1988 12 24 December 24 1988 age 34 Lowell Michigan U S Height 6 ft 1 in 1 85 m Weight 213 lb 97 kg Career informationHigh school Lowell MI College Oklahoma 2007 Michigan State 2008 2011 Undrafted 2012Career highlights and awardsBig Ten 2010 Big 12 2007 Contents 1 High school career 2 College career 2 1 Freshman season 2 2 Sophomore season 2 3 Junior season 2 4 Senior season 2 5 College statistics 3 Professional career 4 References 5 External linksHigh school career EditNichol attended Lowell High School in Lowell Michigan After a good freshman season Nichol was promoted to the varsity team for the playoffs and saw some playing time as a cornerback in a blowout Nichol had a breakout season as a sophomore He threw for 2 125 yards and 26 touchdowns in Lowell s veer offense and led the team to a state championship His success led to him being heavily recruited by several teams in the Big Ten Conference as well as the University of Notre Dame In July 2005 Nichol committed to play for the Michigan State University Spartans Nichol also participated in the ESPN RISE Elite 11 quarterback camp After his commitment the Spartans went 9 14 and head coach John L Smith was fired As a result Nichol backed out of his commitment with the Spartans and committed to the University of Oklahoma a school that expressed strong interest in him after his de commitment 1 In his senior year Nichol passed for 2 225 yards and 31 touchdowns 2 As a three year starter Nichol won 33 games with three losses He passed for 6 550 yards and 76 touchdowns and ran for 3 100 yards and 58 touchdowns in his high school career 3 He was an all state selection three times 4 Nichol was ranked as the sixth best dual threat quarterback in the country out of high school by Rivals com 3 Scout com ranked him the 22nd best high school quarterback overall 5 College career EditFreshman season Edit At Oklahoma Nichol competed against redshirt freshman Sam Bradford and junior Joey Halzle for the starting quarterback position during spring practices in 2007 6 After a scrimmage game Bradford was named the starter 7 During the year Nichol was the third string quarterback playing in three games and completing two of seven passes for 15 yards After the season Nichol transferred to Michigan State the school he had originally committed to while back in high school By NCAA rule Nichol had to sit out the 2008 season 3 Sophomore season Edit Before the 2009 season Nichol competed against sophomore Kirk Cousins for the starting quarterback position 8 Cousins started the first game with Nichol receiving playing time in which he threw two touchdown passes in a victory over the Montana State Bobcats 9 On October 10 2009 Nichol made his first career start against the Illinois Fighting Illini He completed 13 of 25 passes for 179 yards and one interception in a victory 10 In preparation for the 2010 Alamo Bowl Nichol changed over to the wide receiver position catching two passes for 11 yards and also scored his first career rushing touchdown against the Red Raiders with a 7 yard run out of the wildcat formation in the third quarter Junior season Edit He was an Academic All Big Ten selection and appeared in all 13 games in 2010 including eight starts Ranked fifth on the team with 22 receptions for 262 yards 11 9 avg caught at least one pass in 11 games and also completed 4 of 7 passes for 62 yards and two scores With Kirk Cousins and Andrew Maxwell sidelined with injuries vs No 15 Alabama in the 2011 Capital One Bowl he took snaps at quarterback in the fourth quarter and hit 2 of 5 throws for 56 yards including a 49 yard TD strike to Bennie Fowler Keith also had three catches for 22 yards against the Crimson Tide His 3 yard TD toss to Charlie Gantt with 8 31 left in the fourth quarter at Penn State gave MSU a 28 10 lead and proved to be the game winner as the Spartans held on for a 28 22 victory to clinch a share of the 2010 Big Ten Championship caught three passes for 19 yards vs Purdue and set career highs in receptions 4 and receiving yards 51 at Northwestern including two catches for 34 yards on MSU s game winning touchdown drive in the fourth quarter His career long 42 yard grab from Cousins at No 18 Michigan set up Larry Caper s 8 yard TD run late in the third quarter hauled in three passes for 30 yards vs No 11 Wisconsin caught two passes for 32 yards in the season opener vs Western Michigan including his first career touchdown reception a 20 yard grab from Cousins early in the second quarter Senior season Edit Nichol played an important role as receiver for the Spartans during the 2011 season He caught a hail mary touchdown pass on the final play against No 6 Wisconsin securing the Spartans victory and went on to win the Big Ten Legends Division and will have a rematch against No 15 Wisconsin in the 2011 Big Ten Championship Game 11 He help lead the Spartans to a comeback win against No 16 Georgia in the 2012 Outback Bowl College statistics Edit Oklahoma SoonersSeason GP Pos PassingComp Att Pct Yds TD Int2007 3 QB 2 7 28 6 15 0 0Michigan State Spartans2008 Ineligible due to NCAA transfer rule2009 10 QB 49 91 53 8 764 7 32010 13 WR QB 4 7 57 1 62 2 02011 14 WR 0 0 0 0 0 0Career 40 55 105 52 4 841 9 3Professional career EditOn May 3 2012 Nichol joined with the Washington Redskins as an undrafted free agent on a try out basis 12 The next day it was reported that he was attending the Redskins rookie mini camp which reunited him with Michigan State teammate Kirk Cousins 13 Nichol was not offered a contract at the end of the mini camp 14 15 He later attended rookie mini camp with the Chicago Bears and worked out for the Detroit Lions but wasn t offered a contract by either team 16 References Edit Evans Thayer 2006 12 22 Opportunity Knocks Scout com Archived from the original on 2011 07 16 Retrieved 2009 12 23 The Detroit News Dream Team The Detroit News 2006 11 28 a b c Rexrode Joe 2008 05 21 Ex Lowell QB decides MSU is the right place lansingstatejournal com Lansing State Journal Archived from the original on 2013 01 27 Retrieved 2009 12 23 Slagter John 2009 03 25 Michigan State quarterbacks Kirk Cousins Keith Nichol engage in friendly competition MLive com Retrieved 2009 12 23 Keith Nichol Profile Scout com Retrieved 2009 12 23 Bradford Halzle Nichol competing in OU s QB race ESPN com 2007 03 30 Retrieved 2009 12 23 Bradford named starting quarterback at Oklahoma USA Today 2007 08 21 Retrieved 2009 12 23 Ellis Drew Scouting Michigan State Spartans bring back 15 starters The Morning Sun Retrieved 2009 12 23 Martin Tim Michigan St cruises past Montana St 44 3 Yahoo Retrieved 2009 12 23 Mercer David 2009 10 10 Michigan State beats Illinois 24 14 The Morning Sun Retrieved 2009 12 23 Final play ends Badgers BCS title hopes Ex Michigan State receiver Keith Nichol signs with Redskins DetroitNews com May 3 2012 Retrieved 2012 05 03 permanent dead link Sipple George May 4 2012 Michigan State WR Keith Nichol on Redskins They like my toughness Detroit Free Press Retrieved 2012 05 04 Calloway Brian May 9 2012 MSU football s Nichol pleased with Redskins mini camp LansingStateJournal com Retrieved 2012 05 09 permanent dead link Rookie Camp with Washington Redskins Comfortable Familiar for Former Michigan State Spartans WR Keith Nichol Yahoo Sports Archived from the original on 2013 11 03 Retrieved 2015 11 15 VanOchten Brian June 28 2012 After several tryouts former Michigan State receiver Keith Nichol confident he will get shot at NFL training camp MLive com Retrieved 2012 07 28 External links EditNichol Bio at official web site of Michigan State Spartans Football Nichol Recruiting Profile at Rivals com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Keith Nichol amp oldid 1166466638, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
