A season after Central Michigan sent a pair of offensive linemen to the NFL, the primary beneficiary of their pro-level talent plans to take his shot at the next level.
Running back Lew Nichols III, who led the nation with 1,848 rushing yards in 2021, declared for the 2023 NFL draft on Monday and signed with Detroit agency VIP Sports Management. The Detroit Cass Tech product averaged 5.4 yards a carry for the Chippewas during his chart-topping season, carrying the ball 341 times and adding 16 touchdowns. He also had 40 receptions for 338 yards and two TDs as CMU made a surprise run to the Sun Bowl and defeated Washington State in El Paso, Texas, on New Year’s Eve.