by Bo Marchionte
@bomarchionte | College2Pro.com
Published October 22, 2026, 9:19 AM
From College Football Royalty to Pittsburgh’s Special Teams Hitman
Lew Nichols III knows what it’s like to be the main attraction.
The football in his hands, defenders in his rearview mirror and an offense built around his ability to move the chains.
These days, the former college rushing king is working a different side of the business.
And he’s getting pretty damn good at it.
While Nichols waits for his opportunity to become part of Pittsburgh’s rushing attack, he’s developed a relentless appetite for the opportunities already sitting on his plate.
Special teams.
Not exactly the glamorous destination for somebody who once led the entire nation in rushing. But Nichols isn’t interested in negotiating with his circumstances. He’s too busy making the most of them.
Sunday in Tampa Bay, that attitude earned him a Steelers game ball.
“Oh man, it was definitely a blessing. It’s a real moment, and definitely an honor, you know, to be recognized by my coaches and teammates and everybody,” Nichols said.
At Central Michigan, he wasn’t just another running back collecting Saturday afternoon yardage.
He was the main attraction.
In 2021, Nichols led the entire Football Bowl Subdivision with 1,848 rushing yards, scored 16 rushing touchdowns and averaged a ridiculous 142.2 yards per game.
He collected MAC Offensive Player of the Year honors, first-team All-MAC recognition and finished his Central Michigan career with 3,061 rushing yards.
He was also the 2020 MAC Freshman of the Year.
Green Bay selected him in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL Draft. His professional journey subsequently included Philadelphia before Pittsburgh offered another opportunity. The college superstar became an NFL survivor, fighting for roster space rather than rushing titles.
And that’s where Nichols becomes especially interesting.
Plenty of former college stars struggle to embrace the NFL’s less glamorous assignments. Nichols has turned one into a personal calling card.
Against Tampa Bay, he delivered a memorable overtime tackle on former Steelers running back Kenny Gainwell. Apparently, the two had been exchanging some friendly verbal ammunition.
“I just was smiling at him, let him know I got him on that one,” Nichols said. “Because he was talking mess to me when he was on kickoff and I was on kick return, so I was just you know returning that favor. Just all friendly competition.”
No manufactured hostility.
Just two former teammates talking a little trash before Nichols delivered the punctuation.
“Just want to get the defense some energy, you know, so they can go out there and get that stop,” Nichols explained.
He wasn’t campaigning for a game ball. Hell, he wasn’t even thinking about one.
“Definitely not, I’m just happy we got the win,” Nichols replied when I asked if he was even thinking about a treasured game ball heading his way.
When asked about the last time he’d received such recognition, Nichols reached all the way back to college.
That’s a long time between souvenirs for somebody who once treated 100-yard rushing performances like routine maintenance.
But the best part of this story has nothing to do with statistics, tackles or even Pittsburgh’s victory.
It’s what Nichols plans to do with the football.
“I was gonna go home for sure. Give it to my mom. You know, let my nephew see it,” Nichols said. “Definitely just kind of inspire him and inspire myself whenever I go home and just walk by it.”
A guy who once led college football in rushing is genuinely excited to bring home a football commemorating his special teams work.
Nichols isn’t getting the carries. However, he’s making himself impossible to overlook without them.
And that might be the coolest part of his story.
Photo Credit Frank Hyatt/College2Pro.com
