Honestly, the way people talk about the Graham Nicholson NFL draft process is kinda funny. You have this kid who basically won everything you can possibly win at the college level. A Lou Groza Award. Consensus All-American honors. He even broke records for most consecutive field goals made in a single season. But then he transfers to Alabama for his final year, and suddenly the conversation gets complicated.
Scouting kickers is a weird science. It’s not like evaluating a left tackle where you’re looking at wing span or a wideout where 40-times are king. For a guy like Nicholson, it’s about "the twitch" in his leg and whether he can handle the soul-crushing pressure of a 52-yarder in a swirling wind at Lambeau Field.
Why Graham Nicholson's 2023 Season Was Actually Historic
If you look back at his time at Miami of Ohio, the numbers were stupid. Like, video game stupid. He went 27-of-28 on field goals. That’s a 96.4% success rate. To put that into perspective, most NFL kickers would sell a kidney for that kind of consistency over a full season. He didn't just kick chips either; he was banging them through from 50+ yards with ease.
He set the FBS record with 25 straight made field goals. That's a lot of pressure to carry week after week in the MAC, where the weather is usually garbage by November.
Then came the move to Tuscaloosa.
When he hit the transfer portal, it wasn't exactly a quiet exit. Miami coach Chuck Martin famously claimed Alabama "stole" their kicker. It was high drama for a position that usually stays out of the headlines. Nicholson arrived at Alabama with the impossible task of replacing Will Reichard, the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer.
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The Transition to the SEC
The 2024 season at Alabama was... different. He wasn't asked to carry the offense the way he was at Miami. When you're playing for Kalen DeBoer, you're usually scoring touchdowns, not settling for three. Nicholson finished his lone season with the Crimson Tide going 8-for-10 on field goals.
- Extra Points: 53-of-53 (Perfect)
- Field Goal Percentage: 80%
- Longest Kick: 51 yards against Michigan
His stats took a dip in volume, and that’s where the Graham Nicholson NFL draft stock gets tricky for some people. He only had 10 attempts. In the NFL, scouts want to see a guy who stays "warm" even when he’s not being used.
The Scouting Report: What NFL Teams Are Seeing
Scouts aren't just looking at the makes and misses. They’re looking at the ball flight. Nicholson has what they call "natural lift." The ball gets up high, fast. That's huge in the pros because it prevents those demoralizing blocked kicks by 6'7" defensive linemen.
His leg strength is solid, though maybe not "elite" in the sense of a Justin Tucker. He’s comfortable up to about 53 or 54 yards. In today's NFL, teams are starting to look for guys who can hit from 60, so that’s a small knock against him. But accuracy? He’s got that in spades.
One thing that helps his draft profile is his kickoff ability. In 2024, he showed he could handle the duties, recording touchbacks on about 75% of his limited kickoff attempts. NFL teams hate carrying two specialists if they don't have to. If you can kick field goals and also boom it out of the end zone, you're a much more attractive prospect.
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Will He Actually Get Drafted?
Kickers are almost never "locks" to be drafted. Usually, only two or three go in the entire seven rounds. In the 2026 cycle, he’s competing with guys like Lucas Carneiro from Ole Miss and Trey Smack from Florida.
Current projections for the Graham Nicholson NFL draft status usually land him in the "Priority Undrafted Free Agent" (UDFA) category or a very late 7th-round flier.
Why the hesitation?
Teams are scared of the "one-year wonder" tag, even though he was great for three years at Miami. They look at the 80% mark at Alabama and wonder if the pressure of the big stage got to him, even though two misses on ten attempts is a tiny sample size.
The Mental Game of the Graham Nicholson NFL Draft
The biggest hurdle for any specialist is between the ears. Nicholson has already proven he can handle a jump in competition. Moving from the MAC to the SEC is like moving from a local indie film to a Marvel blockbuster. The lights are brighter, the fans are meaner, and every mistake is magnified on SportsCenter.
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He handled the Alabama transition with a lot of poise. He didn't crumble. He just did his job.
NFL GMs love that "boring" consistency. They don't want a kicker who is a "personality." They want a guy who walks onto the field, looks like he’s waiting for a bus, and knocks it through the uprights.
What’s Next for Nicholson?
If you're following the Graham Nicholson NFL draft journey, the next few months are basically a job interview. He’ll likely get an invite to a secondary bowl game or a specialized kicking camp where NFL special teams coordinators will watch every single swing of his leg.
He needs to show that his 2023 season wasn't a fluke.
If he can hit 55-yarders consistently in front of scouts during pro days, someone is going to give him a shot. Whether it’s a draft pick or a high-value free-agent contract, he’s going to be in an NFL camp this summer.
Actionable Insights for the 2026 Season:
- Watch the Preseason: If Nicholson goes undrafted, keep an eye on which team signs him. Teams like the Packers or Browns, who have historically struggled with kicking consistency, are prime landing spots.
- Monitor Field Goal Trends: The NFL's new kickoff rules mean teams are valuing "specialized" kickers who can place the ball accurately rather than just booming it. This plays right into Nicholson's strengths.
- Track the Competition: Compare his pro day numbers specifically against Trey Smack. If Nicholson’s hang time is higher, he likely gets the nod from a team that prioritizes kick coverage.
At the end of the day, Nicholson is a winner. You don't win the Groza by accident. He’s got the pedigree, he’s got the SEC experience, and he’s got the record books on his side. Now he just needs one team to believe that his right leg is worth a roster spot.