Central Michigan University Athletics
Lew Nichols Selected by Green Bay Packers in 2023 NFL Draft
4/29/2023 11:37:00 PM | Football
Lew Nichols III is taken in the Seventh Round with the No. 235 pick by the Green Bay Packers; Joel Wilson, Thomas Incoom, and Carlos Carriere picked up as free agents by the New Orleans Saints, Denver Broncos, and New York Giants respectively.
In addition to Nichols, two Chippewas were picked up as free agents Saturday evening including linebacker/defensive end Thomas Incoom by the Denver Broncos and tight end Joel Wilson by the New Orleans Saints. Wide receiver Carlos Carriere was picked up by the New York Giants.
Nichols becomes the eighth Central Michigan player drafted into the NFL since 2010. He became the first Central Michigan running back taken in the draft since Donnie Riley was taken by the Phoenix Cardinals in 1990.
🏆 Congratulations to @CMU_Football and Detroit native @LewNichols_, who was drafted in the 7️⃣th round of the @NFLDraft by the @packers!
— CMU Football (@CMU_Football) April 29, 2023
The 2021 @NCAA rushing leader was the No. 235 pick!
📰 https://t.co/O0nVZGIA5L#FireUpChips 🔥🆙🏈 pic.twitter.com/pOV8CZKUzk
A 5-foot-11, 222-pound running back from Detroit, Mich., Nichols was named the 2021 MAC Offensive Player of the Year and First Team All-MAC in 2021 after leading the nation in rushing yards (1,848) and yards rushing per game (142.2) and tied for ninth nationally in rushing touchdowns (16) and 11th nationally in total touchdowns (18) in 2021. He also caught 40 passes for 338 yards and two touchdowns and ranked first on the squad in all-purpose yards (2,186) and all-purpose yards per game (168.2).
With the 235th pick in the 2023 #NFLDraft, the #Packers select Central Michigan RB Lew Nichols!#PackersDraft | @meijer pic.twitter.com/2URpliKB15
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) April 29, 2023
In 32 career games, Nichols rushed for 3,061 yards and 26 touchdowns on 614 carries (5.0 average) and caught 71 passes for 575 yards and three touchdowns. He scored a total of 29 touchdowns (26 rushing, three receiving) and concluded his career ranked among CMU's all-time top rushers in virtually every statistical category. Injuries limited Nichols in 2022.
Incoom, a 6-foot-4, 265-pound Stone Mountain, Ga. native played in the Reese's Senior Bowl Game, and was invited to the East-West Shrine Bowl and NFL Combine. In his two-year, 25-game career as a defensive lineman at Central Michigan, Incoom amassed 84 tackles (47 solo), 27.0 tackles for loss for 140 yards, 15.5 sacks for 116 yards, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries.
🏆 Congratulations to @CMU_Football's Thomas Incoom, who was picked up as a free agent by the @Broncos!
— CMU Football (@CMU_Football) April 30, 2023
Incoom ranked No. 4️⃣ in the nation in sacks (11.5) and No. 7️⃣in the nation in tackles for loss (19.0) in 2022!
📰 https://t.co/4KNNURUHND#FireUpChips 🔥🆙🏈 pic.twitter.com/4VFicWvVZE
An Honorable Mention All-America selection by Phil Steele Magazine, First Team All-MAC honoree and Ted Hendricks Award Watch List player, Incoom ranked No. 4 in the nation in sacks (11.5, 0.96 per game) and No.7 in the nation in tackles for loss (19.0, 1.6 per game) as a senior in 2022. He also made 57 tackles (31 solo) and recovered two fumbles, forced a fumble, and registered a team-high four quarterback hurries. As a junior, Incoom played in all 13 games while making two starts at defensive end. He tallied 28 total tackles, including 8 ½ tackles-for-loss and four sacks, and ranked third on the team in tackles-for-loss and fourth in sacks.
Born and raised in Ghana, Incoom moved to the United States when he was 12 years old. He didn't start playing football until his sophomore year in high school. He actually began his football career as a placekicker, then was moved to tight end. Valdosta State offered him an opportunity and moved him to defensive end. Incoom transferred to Central Michigan from Valdosta State, where he earned first team All-Gulf South Conference honors after leading the team to the league championship and an NCAA Division II playoff appearance. He made 33 tackles including 15 solo stops, had 12.5 tackles for loss including 9.5 sacks, and led the team with four forced fumbles in 2019.
🏆 Congratulations to @cmu_football's Joel Wilson, who was picked up as a free agent by the @Saints!
— CMU Football (@CMU_Football) April 30, 2023
Before suffering an injury, Wilson ranked No. 2️⃣nationally among tight ends in receptions and receiving yards!
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Wilson, a 6-foot-4, 250-pound tight end from Petoskey, Mich., caught 82 passes for 874 yards and 12 touchdowns with a 10.7 average yards per reception over his four-year, 34-game career at Central Michigan. A Third Team All-MAC selection, Wilson ranked second nationally among tight ends in receptions and receiving yards after the ninth week of the 2022 season. He ended up leading the Chippewas in both touchdown receptions (six) and yards receiving per game (49.4) and ranked second on the team in scoring (38 points), touchdowns (six), receptions (44), and receiving yards (445).
A 6-foot-5, 203-pound wide receiver from Alpharetta, Ga., Carriere led the Chippewas in both receptions (45) and receiving yards (520) and averaged 11.6 yards per catch with two touchdowns in 2022 after transferring from Maryland. In his collegiate career, Carriere has caught 83 passes for 1,000 yards and eight touchdowns.
🏆 Congratulations to @CMU_Football's Carlos Carriere, who was picked up as a free agent by the @Giants!
— CMU Football (@CMU_Football) May 2, 2023
A 6-foot-5-inch wide receiver, Carriere led the team in both receptions (45) and receiving yards (520) in 2022!
📰 https://t.co/vcDUZLeJBR#FireUpChips 🔥🆙🏈 pic.twitter.com/1Z2lGyFIb2
Nichols III, Incoom, and Wilson were all ranked among pre-draft players in their respective positions.
Nichols III, Incoom, Wilson, and Carriere are among nine Central Michigan players vying for an NFL opportunity. The others include wide receiver Dallas Dixon, defensive back Ronald Kent III, offensive lineman Jamezz Kimbrough, offensive lineman Jeremy Saddler, and defensive lineman John Wesley Whiteside.
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