Preparing for football: Rochester’s Nichols inks with the high-powered D-III program

By Zach Martin / [email protected]

ROCHESTER – To Jaden Nichols, the campus of Linfield University in McMinnville, Oregon looked a lot like the campus of Rochester High School.

And that was more than enough for the offensive lineman.

“The first time I went there, I really felt like I was home,” Nichols said. “Like I belong there.”

Nichols was the starting left tackle for the Warriors last fall and put pen to paper Friday afternoon in the Rochster cafeteria to continue his football career in the state south of Washington.

Linfield has the longest streak of consecutive winning seasons at 67 and hasn’t fallen below .500 since 1955, when it went 3-6. In recent years, the Wildcats have lost one or two games per season.

“They seemed all in at this level,” Nichols said. “I want to be part of that.”

Nichols was a state place winner in wrestling and one of the top throwers in track and field. He was a credit all over the offensive line. He didn’t miss a beat for Rochester and was a key piece in a rushing attack that racked up 3,900 yards last fall.

Linfield recruited him as a tackle, but Nichols said he would be willing to play any position on the offensive line.

“I’ve already told the coaches that if they need me at guard or tackle, I’ll be available,” he said.

Nichols will major in exercise science. During the meeting, he thanked his coaches, family and teammates for helping him get on the right track.

“That team brotherhood where everyone pushes you to be better,” Nichols said. “You feel like if you don’t do your best, you’re letting someone down. That urge and that urge continued; I wanted to be the best I could.”