Brandon Nicholson
Offensive Lineman / Notre Dame College

Alex Khvatov:  What are your measurements (height, weight and forty time)?

Brandon Nicholson:  Height is 6’3 and 305 right now.  

Alex Khvatov:  How were you preparing for the 2020 season with no offseason training?

Brandon Nicholson:  I have been working out with three O-linemen from my team.  My teammate Jimmy Burchett has a bench, squat bar, and curl bar.  I usually lift four days a week.  We do drills two or three times a week.  

Alex Khvatov:  Besides football, what other sports did you play in high school?

Brandon Nicholson:  I did track and field during my junior and senior year.  I also played basketball my senior year.  I did shot put and discus.  I made it to regionals my senior year.  I won the conference championship for shot put my junior and senior year. 

Alex Khvatov:  What positions did you play in high school? 

Brandon Nicholson:  I was an O-lineman all four years.  I played LT.  I was on varsity all three years.  I also played a lot of defense during my junior and senior year.   

Alex Khvatov:  Coming out of high school, what programs showed interest in you?

Brandon Nicholson:  I was born in Ohio.  I lived in Cleveland all of my life.  I had Notre Dame College, Malone, and Charleston.  I had no D-I looks.

Alex Khvatov:  How did you wind up at Notre Dame College? 

Brandon Nicholson:  Coach Jacobs sold me on the family aspect.  I felt welcomed.  There was a distinct difference when it came to Notre Dame.  It was also 20 minutes away from home.   

Alex Khvatov:  Tell us about your overall career.        

Brandon Nicholson:  I was overweight.  I was around 360 pounds when I first got here.  I wasn’t in the best shape.  I redshirted.  I started as a LG my redshirt freshman year.  Then we lost three seniors, and I had to get bumped up to OT.  I started the last two years at LT.  I have been a three-years starter.  If you know the history of the school, the football program has been around for 10 or 11 years.  We helped turn the program around. 

Alex Khvatov:  What can we expect from your team this upcoming season? 

Brandon Nicholson:  We want to get to the National Championship.  Anything less would be disappointing.  We also want to win the conference.   

Alex Khvatov:  What are your strengths?

Brandon Nicholson:  I am a great pass blocker.  I am very stout and strong.  I communicate well and watch film all the time.   

Alex Khvatov:  What areas of your game are you trying to improve upon?

Brandon Nicholson:  Become a little more explosive out of my stance.  I need to work on my flexibility.  Bend better and squeeze through holes.   

Alex Khvatov:  What is the highlight of your career up to this point?

Brandon Nicholson:  Changing my body completely.  I was 360 pounds my freshman year.  I was doing the right things.  I dedicated myself to losing the weight.  I lost 35 pounds my first year.  I was 325 pounds my redshirt freshman year.  I want to play at around 310-315.  It is good weight for me.  In the beginning of last season, I was 305.  During the season, I was up to 315.  Around playoff time, I was at about 320 pounds.   

Alex Khvatov:  What is the biggest lesson that you have taken away from your coaching staff? 

Brandon Nicholson:  Don’t take anything for granted.  We thought that we would be in the final four.  We have to take advantage of the opportunity.  We are hungry now.  We are more dedicated this year.         

Alex Khvatov:  What is your favorite NFL team? 

Brandon Nicholson:  The Browns.  I am a Cleveland native.     

Alex Khvatov:  Who is your favorite NFL player?

Brandon Nicholson:  Joe Thomas.  I watched him when he was at Wisconsin.  My dad pointed him out to me.  He was the best LT in college.  Then he was drafted by the Browns. 

Alex Khvatov:  What players on your team should we keep an eye on for this upcoming season?

Brandon Nicholson:  OG Jimmy Burchett, C Nick Beans and LB Guam Lee.  RB Jaleel McLaughlin will go crazy again this year.  LB Nathan Moore is one of the best guys on our defense.     

Alex Khvatov:  Who is the best player that you have faced on an opposing team?

Brandon Nicholson:  Chad Kuhn from Slippery Rock.   

Alex Khvatov:  What is the most important trait for an OL?

Brandon Nicholson:  Our coach always talks about discipline. 

Alex Khvatov:  What do you enjoy most about football?

Brandon Nicholson:  Being able to play the game my brothers.  The camaraderie and the feel in the air when you come back after the summer.     

Alex Khvatov:  What are your hobbies?

Brandon Nicholson:  I love playing basketball and video games.  I like to read from time to time.  

Alex Khvatov:  What do you want to do with your life after your football career is over?

Brandon Nicholson:  My major is in business administration.  My minor is in health and education.  I will graduate in the fall.  I want to stay around the game and be a coach. 

Alex Khvatov:  How were you able to change your diet and lose weight so drastically?

Brandon Nicholson:  I lost about 35 pounds the first year.  I drank water for two days and then I would eat on the third day.  It wasn’t very healthy.  Then coach Butler did meal plans for me to drop the weight steadily.  My teammate Jimmy Burchett gave me his meal plan from high school.  He wrestled.  He knew how to do it correctly.  I dropped 25 pounds last summer.   

Alex Khvatov:  What five words best describe you?

Brandon Nicholson:  Humble, competitive, friendly, funny, and charismatic.