#3 Chris Nickson Season 2005-06

SINGLE-GAME HIGHS
COMPLETIONS: 27, vs. Florida, 11/4/2006
PASS ATTEMPTS: 44, vs. Florida, 11/4/2006
PASSING YARDS: 446 yards, vs. Kentucky, 11/11/2006
TOUCHDOWN PASSES: 4, vs. Richmond, 9/1/2007
RUSHING YARDS: 150 yards, at Duke, 10/18/2006
RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS: 3, at Duke, 10/18/2006

2007
Opened season as starting quarterback before injuries and inconsistency forced lineup change… Played in eight games, starting first six contests before Mackenzi Adams became starter… Completed 62 of 119 passes for 763 yards and six TDs… Team[apos]s fifth leading rusher with 178 yards and 2 TDs on 58 carries… Opened season by sharing Offensive Player of the Week honors with receiver Earl Bennett in win over Richmond by hitting 19 for 26 passes for 284 yards and career-high four TDs… Also played well in win over Ole Miss, completing 17 of 25 passes for 200 yards while rushing for 57 yards… Passed for two TDs and rushed for 67 yards in win over Eastern Michigan, though also threw for four INTs… Appeared to lose confidence and passing accuracy while struggling in losses to Alabama and Auburn… Replaced by Adams early in Georgia outing… Returned late in Miami (Ohio) to rush for 42 yards and a TD on 11 carries… Did not play in final three games of season.

2006
As a first-year starter, Nickson put together one of the finest seasons ever by a Commodore signal caller… Recipient of team[apos]s postseason Most Valuable Offensive Back Award… Campaign was highlighted by a remarkable three-game stretch late in the season that included more than 900 passing yards, six touchdown passes and five rushing touchdowns… Concluded season completing 160 of 292 passes, good for 2,085 yards and 15 TDs… His passing totals rank second all-time among Commodore sophomores, trailing only Jay Cutler[apos]s 2003 campaign… As a running threat, Nickson was tremendous, rushing for team-high 694 yards and nine touchdowns… Rushing total is the single-season record for Commodore quarterbacks… Amassed 2,779 yards of total offense, a sophomore team mark and fourth all-time among Commodores… Shared team[apos]s Offensive Player of the Week honors following four games… Started season slowly, with first collegiate start at Michigan in front of 109,688, largest crowd to ever watch a Commodore game… Initial Offensive Player of the Week honors came after Arkansas performance, where he threw for a score and ran for two others in a narrow home loss… Threw for two touchdowns and artfully guided fourth quarter drive that ended in last second field goal to give Commodores a 24-22 upset at Georgia… Remarkable late-season stretch started at Duke, when Nickson fashioned one of the finest games ever by Vandy quarterback, throwing for 250 yards and a pair of touchdowns while running for 150 yards and three scores in the Commodore win… Rushing total against Duke ranks second all-time by Commodore signal caller… One week later against eventual national champion Florida, Nickson completed 27 of 44 passes for 298 yards and two TDs… Capped impressive stretch by producing 517 yards of total offense (446 passing, 71 rushing) and accounting for three TDs at Kentucky… Passing yardage total at Kentucky is team[apos]s third highest ever; total offense accumulation is second highest in school history… Efforts against Florida and Kentucky also earned offensive player of the week recognition… Combined with sophomore WR Earl Bennett to form one of the most potent aerial duos in SEC history.

2005
Served as backup to All-SEC Offensive Player of the Year Jay Cutler… Played quarterback in five of the Commodores[apos] first six games… Also saw action as wide receiver in two games… Completed one of three passes for 13 yards… Was team[apos]s fourth leading rusher with 49 yards on 16 carries, including a long of 15 yards… As a receiver, had one catch for 10 yards against Middle Tennessee… Rushed for 39 yards in win over Richmond.

2004
Redshirted. Named offensive scout Player of the Week after games with Navy and Florida.

High School
Team captain as junior and senior… Started final three seasons at quarterback and safety… Earned first quarterback start as freshmen in state playoffs… 2003 recipient of Mr. Football Award given by Alabama Sportswriters Association to recognize the state[apos]s best football player… Also named 3A Back of the Year as a senior… Two-time First Team 3A All-State and named to Birmingham News[apos] prestigious Super 12 squad…. In 2003, accounted for state-record 67 touchdowns leading Pike County Bulldogs to state championship… Threw for 2,946 yards and 42 touchdowns; ran for 1,526 yards and 22 touchdowns… Also returned two punts and an interception for touchdowns… Led the team with five interceptions… Three-time Bulldog MVP… Accounted for 142 touchdowns and 9,806 all-purpose yards in career… Starter at guard/forward in basketball… Standout pitcher/shortstop in baseball who saw first action as eighth grader.

Personal
Christopher Meltravis Nickson… Son of Willie Nickson and Lenora Owens… One of four siblings… Mom is USDA food inspector; dad is operator for plastics firm… Valedictorian of class, and member of National Honor Society.