Interview: 2018 Georgia OC Nicholas Sligh is D-I Talented with Ivy League Mindset

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG

Whoever said ‘you can’t have it all’ must not know about Nicholas Sligh. The Class of 2018 offensive lineman seems to be the complete package on and off the gridiron sporting a 4.-plus grade point average with a 32 scored on the ACT, has the prototypical size for a Division-I center at 6-3, 310, and has the physical strength to match with a bench nearing 400 pounds at 385 and a squat at 550. All that is left is the recruiting process that already includes 16 Division-I offers set in front of Sligh with big interest still looming.

With the snap of the ball, Sligh is an overpowering blocker showing what he can do on run and pass blocking situations. During his junior season, the two-year varsity starter moved from guard to center proving that he can be the focal point of an offensive line helping Clarke Central High School (Athens) to a 7-5 record. The Gladiators pushed into the second round of the Georgia playoffs beating Carver before falling to Stockbridge. His play anchoring the Gladiators’ line led to first team All-Region honors in 2016.

The list of Division-I teams wanting Sligh on their roster in 2018 includes Army, Air Force, Dartmouth, Cornell, Colgate, Southern Illinois, Citadel, Robert Morris, Jacksonville, Furman, East Tennessee State, Jacksonville State, Mercer, Tennessee-Martin, Southeast Missouri State, and Navy with one D-II offer from Florida Tech. The power, strength, and ability coupled with the classroom work and test scores has the Ivy League schools buzzing. A push during the season from teams like Virginia, Rutgers, and Penn State could make Sligh one of the hottest 2018 center recruits in the nation, should he stay uncommitted, leading towards National Signing Day.

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview, I sat down with one of the top centers in the nation along the east coast getting insight on his high school career to date with an update on his recruiting process.

Interview

Nicholas, how did your junior season go on the field?

“It was great. We had a new coaching staff in place. That change helped a lot. We have had a lot of talent but we did not have the discipline needed to win. In the 80’s and 90’s, we competed for titles. I believe we have great talent on our team and great coaches in place. We are a team on the rise in the area.”

What type of offense do the Gladiators run?

“Last season we ran a pro-style offense, a lot of one and two tight end sets. We were under center a lot. On our passing plays, we were half in shotgun and half under center. This year we will be in the shotgun primarily. Our starting running back, Jonathan Sewell, is very talented. He is a four-star recruit. He is great in space. We are trying to spread the ball out more to get him in space. We lost some size on our line from last year. To make up for that we will execute a quick hit offense with a lot of quick slants instead of long passes downfield.”

Who was the toughest defensive lineman you went up against last season?

“Dareon Goodrum was one. He is a nose guard for Oconne County. He is really good and was only a sophomore last season. Dontae Wilson from Jefferson High School was really good too.”

How did those match-ups improve your skillset?

“Dontae Wilson, going up against him was great. That was during our first scrimmage. He signed with Georgia State, but if he was two inches taller would have been a SEC recruit. Going up against him before the start of the season helped me get into the feel of the game. Dareon is a quick defensive lineman. He helped me refine my techniques keeping up with him.”

Did you or your coaches track how many pancake blocks you had last season?

“Not exactly, but we receive a helmet sticker for each pancake block we get. I had roughly 50 stickers, about five a game. We track knockdowns separately. I had over 100 knockdowns last season.”

Nice. What were some of the areas of your game you entered the off-season wanting to work on before your senior year?

“One of the main things is footwork. I have good footwork for my size but I want to keep working on it. I have cut fat and gained muscle this off-season. My cardio is up and I am in better shape. I’ve spent a lot of time fine-tuning my technique. I’m always working on snapping, footwork, and speed.”

Will you play any defense during the 2017 season?

“I might play some goal line sets, but not regularly on the defensive line.”

How have your off-season practices come along? How has your skillset grown this spring and summer?

“I’ve worked on my leadership off the field. I may be the only senior starter on the line this year, we might have another, but I will be the leader on the line this year. I’ve used positive encouragement and I’ve pushed to get everyone in the weight room this off-season. I’m giving 100 percent and making sure everyone develops. I want to make sure our line is in the best position possible. For me, I’ve been working on footwork, speed, endurance, and being in good enough shape to handle the entire season.”

When you talk to college coaches, what are they telling you they like about your game?

“A lot of the coaches see me as a road grading lineman, I like pass blocking more. My highlight tape shows the ‘wow’ blocks on running plays but I feel I do both really well.”

Which position are schools recruiting you to play, guard or center?

“Most colleges want me to stay at center. The service academy schools want me at guard. A couple of schools want me to play guard too but the majority of schools want me at center.”

Have you maxed out this off-season in the weight room?

“Our high school program does not max on squat due to knee safety. The last max I did on squat was at 545, but my legs have gotten stronger. If I had to guess where I am at now I would say around 550 to 560. My bench is around 375. I have not maxed out on power clean in about six months but the last time I did I was at 265.”

Which camps have you attended this off-season?

“I have not been to too many camps this off-season. I have been with the team working out and practicing. I went up to the northeast this spring and in the early summer. It is all about time and money to get back up to the northeast for camps.”

Have you made any unofficial visits yet?

“Yes, sir. I’ve made a lot of unofficial visits so far. In the spring, I went to Richmond, William and Mary, Cornell, Yale, Dartmouth, Colgate, Furman, Wolford, Davidson, Army, Columbia, Penn, Princeton, Georgetown, Navy, and Harvard.”

Wow. That’s a lot of schools. Do you have any unofficial visits planned for the rest of the summer or in the fall?

“No, sir. Getting back up to the northeast will be hard. I hope to make some game day visits this fall. I have none scheduled but I have some in mind I would like to take as official visits.”

Which schools are showing interest but have not offered yet?

“There’s a lot of schools like Tulane, App State (Appalachian State), Georgia Southern, Troy, Middle Tennessee, Minnesota, Pitt, and Stanford. Stanford has talked to a little bit about a possible walk-on opportunity.”

Have you started thinking about when you might commit?

“I have a couple of schools that I do not have offers from but might jump on if offered. I’m looking to make a middle of the season or end of the season commitment. I want to take my official visits first before making my official decision.”

When you start the process of narrowing down your top schools, what are the key influencers that will lead you to your perfect fit?

“The No. 1 thing is academics. Academics is huge to me and my family. My dad has always pushed school on me. I work very hard on my academics. I take as much pride in the classroom as I do on the field. I want to go to best academic school as I can. Second is the relationship with the coaches, kids going in my class, and the ones there already. I want to be around the highest character, the hardest working, and best people possible. I want to have a good time being around them for four years.”

What is your cumulative GPA?

“4.4.”

Have you taken the ACT or SAT, and if so, do you have a score to share?

“I got a 32 on the ACT.”

Which degree would you like to pursue in college?

“It all depends on the school. I am open to a lot of opportunities. I’m interested in business, being a veterinarian, and the biological sciences.”

Do you play any other sports for Clarke?

“I did shotput and discus my freshman and sophomore year. This off-season I’m working on football only. I’m not able to play two sports in college. I’m focusing on my career after high school now.”

Let’s close out with a look ahead. What has you excited about your senior season?

“I’m excited to see how the team progresses this year. We are working hard. We have a lot of great kids on the team. Our coaching staff is in their second year with the team, we will gel better this year as a team. We will have better chemistry this year. I feel like it can be a special season for us if things work out that way.”

Is there a game on the schedule you are already excited to play?

“The big game is Cedar Shoals. They are our huge in-town rival. That game is the most fun. The whole town is there. The atmosphere is awesome.”

How do the Gladiators look heading into the 2017 season?

“I feel like as a whole, we are a good and a deep team. The o-line is not the deepest but we have a great quarterback, a great running back, and an awesome group of receivers. We have some great players at tight end too. Our defense is solid. We have a great d-line and linebackers, and a very good secondary. We are solid across the board. I’m excited to see what happens this year.”

Nicholas, thanks for your time today and good luck with the rest of your summer workouts.

“Thank you.”

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Photo credit: Odyssey Sports; No. 67 Nicholas Slight gets a big pancake block (2016).

Photo credit: Natalie Pierce; No. 65 Nicholas Sligh in action (2016).

Photo credit: Natalie Pierce; Nicholas Sligh Class of 2018 Rising Senior