Film Don't Lie | Ben Nichols
Notre Dame added their second offensive line commitment of the class when Ben Nichols pledged to the Irish on Christmas Eve. He might have a body that reminds some people of jolly old Saint Nick, but Kris Kringle can’t move like this dude and doesn’t have the nasty disposition that Nichols has on the field.
A blue-chip prospect with an impressive offer list, Nichols is yet another building block for Notre Dame’s 2026 recruiting class.
Height: 6’5”
Weight: 315
Projected Position: Guard
ISD Grade: 92 (4-star)
National Average Grade: 90.3 (4-star)
What he does best:
Nichols is mean. He’s a violent player who fits right in with young offensive lineman on the roster like Anthonie Knapp and Sam Pendleton. Nichols plays with great leverage, is a natural knee bender, and loves to finish blocks.
He can clean up some of his footwork, but he’s an agile player who can get his hips around to reach edge defenders and can be used as a puller in the running game.
He is quick off the ball and shows tremendous power at the point of attack.
What he needs to improve:
I love the mentality he plays with and how explosive he is out of his stance, but I’d like to see him play under more control when he gets to the second level. That will come in time.
Although he performed well at the Under Armour Ohio camp last year in one on one pass pro, he’s been relatively untested in pads against good competition. It’s a different animal having to face dudes who have size and superior athletic traits in pass protection. That is going to take some time for him to adjust to, but I see good balance and above average feet for a guy his size.
What’s his ceiling?
Does he need to reshape his body? Probably, but there are plenty of guys built like him who never get anywhere close to looking svelte. Former Notre Dame All-American guard Aaron Banks is one of them and that’s the player Nichols reminds me of in many respects.
I’m a big fan of Nichols. There are a lot of other guys who look like him who win with size and strength, but he generates so much power from leverage and twitch. He also is a plus athlete for a guy his size.
I love this pickup for the Irish. I think he has the potential to develop into a high-level starter at guard with some flexibility to compete at tackle as well if that was what was needed.
Who he could be:
Former Notre Dame guard Aaron Banks
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