Tennessee redshirt offensive lineman Addison Nichols announced his intentions to enter the transfer portal on his Instagram Monday night.
“I want to thank the University of Tennessee, everyone I’ve been fortunate enough to meet here, and the most loyal fans in the country, for shaping me into the man and athlete I am today,” Nichols wrote. “I will carry so many lessons and cherished memories with me, always.
“However, after much consideration, I have decided to enter my name into the transfer portal. I look forward to seeing what my future holds.”
Nichols redshirted and played in two games during the 2022 season before playing in 11 games as mostly a special teams player in 2023. The interior offensive lineman played 116 total offensive snaps this season including a season-high 67 offensive snaps in the Vols’ regular season finale against Vanderbilt. Nichols earned a 61.3 PFF grade in 2023.
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The 6-foot-5, 327-pound offensive guard competed for a starting position on the interior of Tennessee’s offensive line in the preseason including plenty of work at center in hopes that Nichols could serve as Cooper Mays’ backup.
Nichols was also one of the first major recruiting wins of Josh Heupel’s tenure. The Atlanta native committed to Tennessee over North Carolina and Ohio State in the summer of 2021 becoming the first four-star recruit to commit to Heupel and his staff.
Tennessee has very little depth on the interior of its offensive line ahead of the 2024 season. Starting center Cooper Mays and right guard Javontez Spraggins are seniors who have eligibility remaining while left guard Ollie Lane is out of eligibility.
Behind the starters, Tennessee has few players with any experience though former Texas transfer Andrej Karic is back and senior Jackson Lampley also has eligibility remaining.
Tennessee has now lost five players in the transfer portal to date including two offensive linemen. Follow along with the Vols’ transfer portal departures with the RTI transfer portal tracker here.
