1 week Ago By Matt Miller
FAIRFIELD — Armijo High School senior quarterback Willie Nickson committed to the Alabama State University football team in January, but his recent visit to Montgomery cemented his decision. Nickson and his parents visited the campus before spring break and took in the Hornets’ spring game. He knew he was home.
“Man, I love the atmosphere and the HBCU-vibe,” Nickson said. “The weather is very different, but the facilities are great and the coaches are great.” Alabama State is one of the nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities, plays in the Southwestern Athletic Conference and is a NCAA Division I FCS program.
Willie Nickson Jr., his father, went to Grambling State. “For sure, with my dad going to Grambling, I wanted to carry on the HBCU legacy,” Nickson said.
“I got to tour the facilities and met all the coaches. I was with the team most of the time and got to meet with the quarterbacks and pick their brains.” Nickson, 6-foot-1, 200 pounds, had an excellent senior season after missing most of his junior year with a knee injury.
He completed 79 of 157 passes for 1,552 yards and 15 touchdowns. Nickson also rushed 63 times for 462 yards and nine scores. Armijo played its first season in the Greater Sacramento League and Nickson was named the Most Valuable Player.
He also earned a spot on the Daily Republic’s All-Region team. Nickson was a three-year starter for the Royals. He finished his career with 3,844 yards passing and 40 touchdowns, and 931 yards rushing with 17 TDs.
“I’m proud of him,” Armijo head coach Don Mosley said. “He’s done a lot to help change and maintain the trajectory of our football program and I wish him the best at Alabama State.” Nickson said there will be seven athletes in the quarterback room next year, but he feels “ready to compete.
” “My goal is to come in and help change the program,” Nickson said. “I think the coaches liked that. I was very proud of the senior year that I was able to have.
It was hard not being able to play my junior season on that great team.” Nickson also played basketball this year after football and is currently a pitcher and third baseman on the baseball team. He has been able to make the most of his senior year.
Alabama State went 7-5 last season and 5-3 in the SWAC. The team is coached by Eddie Robinson, Jr., son of legendary coach at Grambling State.
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