Oct. 30, 2006
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Chris Nickson (R-So, QB) earned Southeastern Conference Offensive Player of the Week honors after a remarkable performance in Vanderbilt’s 45-28 victory at Duke.
Nickson became the first quarterback in Commodore history to throw for 250 yards and rush for 150 yards in a single game at Duke, helping Vanderbilt to its second consecutive road win.
Nickson set career highs with 250 passing yards, hitting 14 of 24 attempts, and 150 rushing yards. Nickson also accounted for five touchdowns – three rushing and two passing.
The 150-rushing total by Nickson is the second most yards ever gained by a Commodore signal caller on the ground, bettered only by Van Heflin’s 167-yard total vs. Air Force (Nov. 17, 1979).
Nickson’s 400 yards of total offense was the most since Jay Cutler accumulated 433 yards in a 48-43 loss to Kentucky (Nov. 12, 2005). Cutler was a two-time SEC Offensive Player of the Week recipient last year, and the league’s Offensive Player of the Year.
Coming off a subpar performance versus South Carolina, Nickson was productive from the Commodores’ first snap in Durham. He guided the offense to scores on seven of 10 possessions, including their first four drives. He completed four of four passes and rushed for 30 yards on the opening drive, then guided the Commodores on a season high 97-yard touchdown drive on the second possession. The third touchdown drive featured four rushes for 39 yards by Nickson.
By halftime, Nickson had 188 passing yards, 79 rushing yards, two touchdown runs and a pair of TD passes, including 77-yard slant to sophomore Earl Bennett and 41-yard dart to George Smith.
The performance allowed Nickson to quickly move up in several Vanderbilt records. He is currently fourth all-time among Commodore sophomore passers with 1,244 passing yards and is 15th among QBs with 1,808 yards of total offense.
Nickson ranks among SEC leaders in total offense (6th), rushing (7th), passing (8th), rushing TDs (T-2nd) and passing TDs (T-7th).
