Eastern Illinois linebacker Ju’Wuan Nickson (5) returns to Tuscaloosa as the Panthers close out their season at FBS Alabama. (Photo by Sandy King, EIUPanthers.com)
By Dan Verdun
For the first time since he began playing college football, Ja’Wuan Nickson will fulfill both a longtime dream and be home for Thanksgiving.
The Eastern Illinois junior linebacker, who played at Tuscaloosa Hillcrest High School, will return to his hometown when the Panthers (3-8) visit Bryant-Denny Stadium to face FBS Alabama (8-2) on Saturday.
“It’s one of those things I’ve been dreaming about,” Nickson told Prairie State Pigskin. “It will definitely be a good time, seeing family and friends.”
Nickson is tied for the team lead with 89 tackles, including a season-high 14 against UT Martin. The 6-foot-3, 235-pounder has registered five double-figure tackle games this season.
Nickson said he was aware that the Crimson Tide was on the schedule when he transferred to EIU after playing two seasons at Riverside (Calif.) City College.
“That was a smaller reason why I committed here,” he said. “I felt like this was the best place for me to grow as a player and as a human.”
Nickson said he also fielded offers from Western Illinois, Alabama A&M, Southern University as well as FBS Southern Mississippi.
Nickson said his game has improved by consistently being able to shed blocks thanks to the guidance of EIU linebackers coach Rodman Noel.
“That has definitely elevated my game,” he said.
Though he has been hampered by a recent thumb injury, Nickson said there is no way he wouldn’t be on the field Saturday.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” he said.
This week’s opponent
This game marks the second-highest ranked FBS school Eastern Illinois has ever faced. Alabama lost to Oklahoma, 23-21, last weekend, dropping the Crimson Tide from No. 4 to No. 10. EIU played at No. 9 Iowa in 2010.
“It’s a once-in-a-generation opportunity to play against the best of the best,” EIU head coach Chris Wilkerson said. “When you look at the history of college football, arguably the two greatest coaches (Bear Bryant and Nick Saban) coached at the University of Alabama. If you look at the number of national championships. If you look at the winning percentage, I think they’re No. 3 all-time. (They have) facilities, talent, coaching. You name it. It’s the best of the best.”
Quarterback Ty Simpson, the son of UT Martin head coach Jason Simpson, has thrown for 2,787 yards and 22 touchdowns this season. He has five players with 20 or more catches at his disposal. Top target Germie Bernard leads the Crimson Tide with 48 receptions for 676 yards and six touchdowns.
Alabama averages 108.7 rushing yards per game. Senior Jam Miller is the leading rusher with 348 yards.
The Crimson Tide defense is led by coordinator Kane Wommack, who was an assistant coach on the Eastern Illinois staff for two seasons. Wommack was the Panthers DC in 2014 and 2015 under head coach Kim Dameron. EIU made the FCS playoffs in 2015.
Linebacker Justin Jefferson is the top tackler with 64 stops while redshirt sophomore Yhonzae Pierre has 10.5 tackles for loss with six sacks.
Kickoff: 1 p.m.; TV: ESPN-Plus; Radio: WEIU.net/hitmix
Key matchup to watch
EIU offense vs. Alabama pass rush
The Panthers rank 112th out of 126 FCS teams in sacks allowed this season. Though Alabama ranks 70th out of 134 FBS in team sacks, the Crimson Tide pass rush is something unlike anything EIU has faced all season.
What’s at stake
An EIU loss means the Panthers go into the offseason with a seven-game losing streak.
Quick hits
Eastern Illinois receives a $560,000 guarantee from Alabama for the game. …This will be the first meeting between the two schools and just EIU’s third all-time against a Southeastern Conference opponent. EIU is 6-41 all-time against FBS schools with the most recent win coming in 2016 against Miami (Ohio). EIU has never beaten a power conference school. The Panthers do have one additional game against a current SEC school, losing in 2003 at Missouri when the Tigers were in the Big 12 Conference. … Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer and defensive coordinator Kane Wommack have both faced EIU before as coaches. The two were the coordinators at Indiana during the 2019 season when the Hoosiers beat Eastern that season. … Punter Mason Miller ranks third among FCS punters with a 47.2 per boot average. He appears on the verge of setting the EIU single season punting average record. Kevin Cook averaged 44.6 yards per punt during the 2007 season. … The Panthers made a change with their field goal kicker as redshirt freshman Nico Carrier made his collegiate debut last week. Carrier drilled both of his field attempts from 25 and 26 yards but did have an extra point attempt in the third quarter blocked. Carrier replaced kicker Drew Schiller, who was 11-of-17 on the season but had missed four of his last five field goals including potential game-winning attempts at the end of regulation against Charleston Southern and UT Martin.
Dan Verdun is a co-founder of Prairie State Pigskin. He has written four books: NIU Huskies Football, EIU Panthers Football, ISU Redbirds Football and SIU Salukis Football.
Find us on social media!
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PSPigskin
Facebook: Prairie State Pigskin
Instagram: Prairiestatepigskin
Blue Sky: PSPigskin
Prairie State Pigskin 
Leave a comment