The Green Bay Packers selected Central Michigan running back Lew Nichols III in the seventh round (No. 235 overall) of the 2023 NFL draft.
Height: 5-10
Weight: 220
Age: 21
From: Detroit, MI
Breakdown: Big, thick running back with power, quick feet and ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. Rushed for over 3,000 yards and caught 71 passes at CMU. Led the FBS in rushing and all-purpose yards in 2021. Excellent contact balance.
Brugler’s scouting report: “A two-year starter at Central Michigan, Nichols was the bell-cow back in offensive coordinator Paul Petrino’s multiple run scheme. He earned MAC Offensive Player of the Year honors in 2021 with an FBS-best 2,186 all-purpose yards and 1,848 rushing yards, but his rushing yards per game dropped from 142.2 to only 68.4 in 2022 as he battled injury. With his blend of quickness and power, Nichols can be a tackle breaker and won’t need gaping holes to reach the second level. But he can be methodical at times as he follows his blocks and needs to better anticipate openings before they present themselves. Overall, Nichols is a productive, determined runner with solid feel between the tackles, but his next-level potential will be capped by a lack of creativity with the ball in his hands and inconsistent passing-down skills. His workhorse approach could get him on the field in the right situation.”
Zierlein’s scouting report: “Early down back with good size and power. Nichols runs with solid vision and the ability to create yardage after contact, but he needs room to gain momentum and doesn’t have the wiggle to create for himself if the blocking falters. He’s smooth in his cuts, but he lacks the suddenness and play speed to stay a step ahead of NFL defenders. Nichols has an outside chance of making an NFL roster.”
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