DeCarlos Nicholson

DeCarlos Nicholson
No. 41 – Carolina Panthers
PositionCornerback
Roster statusActive
Personal information
Born (2001-11-16) November 16, 2001[1]
Listed height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Listed weight200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
High schoolPetal (Petal, Mississippi)
CollegeMississippi Gulf Coast CC (2020–2021)
Mississippi State (2022–2023)
USC (2024–2025)
NFL draft2026: undrafted
Career history
* Offseason or practice squad member only

DeCarlos Nicholson (born November 16, 2001) is an American professional football cornerback for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Mississippi Gulf Coast CC Bulldogs, Mississippi State Bulldogs, and USC Trojans.

Early life

Nicholson grew up in Petal, Mississippi and attended Petal High School where he lettered in football, basketball and baseball. In his high school career, Nicholson completed 245 of his 439 pass attempts for 3,450 yards, 30 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Nicholson would also rush for 984 yards and 11 touchdowns, while also hauling in a receptions for 15 yards.[2] Nicholson was an unranked cornerback recruit and committed to Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.[3]

College career

Mississippi Gulf Coast CC

During Nicholson's true freshman season in 2020, he played in all six games as a quarterback, finishing the season with completing 16 out of 36 passing attempts for 178 along with rushing 25 times for 210 yards.[4] During the 2021 season, he converted to a cornerback and played nine games, finishing the season with 19 total tackles (13 solo and six assisted, two tackles for loss for eight yards and 16 pass breakups.[5]

Nicholson would decide to transfer to Mississippi State,[6] but would decommit[7] and commit to Kentucky,[8] but would later decommit and would eventually commit back at Mississippi State.[9]

Mississippi State

During the 2022 season, Nicholson played in 13 games, finishing the season with five tackles and one pass breakup.[10] During the 2023 season, he played in 12 games and started seven of them, finishing the season with 42 total tackles (17 solo and 25 assisted), two tackles for loss of for four yards and two pass breakups.[11]

On December 7, 2023, Nicholson announced that he would enter the transfer portal.[12]

USC

On December 20, 2023, Nicholson announced that he will transfer to USC.[13]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand spanWingspan40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard split20-yard shuttleThree-cone drillVertical jumpBroad jumpBench press
6 ft 3+1⁄4 in
(1.91 m)		200 lb
(91 kg)		33+1⁄2 in
(0.85 m)		9+1⁄4 in
(0.23 m)		6 ft 9+3⁄4 in
(2.08 m)		4.57 s1.67 s2.72 s4.25 s6.64 s34.5 in
(0.88 m)		11 ft 0 in
(3.35 m)		11 reps
All values from Pro Day[14]

Cleveland Browns

On May 8, 2026, Nicholson signed with the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent.[15] He was waived by Cleveland on May 26 with an injury designation.[16][17]

Carolina Panthers

On July 25, 2026, Nicholson signed with the Carolina Panthers.[18]

References

  1. ↑ @Dee2nich (November 16, 2021). "Blessed to see 20 years old🙏🏾" (Tweet). Retrieved April 25, 2026 – via Twitter.
  2. ↑ "DeCarlos Nicholson's High School Football Stats". MaxPreps.com. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
  3. ↑ "DeCarlos Nicholson, Petal, Dual-Threat Quarterback". 247Sports. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
  4. ↑ "DeCarlos Nicholson". mgcccbulldogs.com. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
  5. ↑ Coleman, Joel (March 7, 2022). "A QB on Defense". hailstate.com. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  6. ↑ Dugan, Michael (July 8, 2021). "MGCCC's DeCarlos Nicholson commits to Mississippi State". WLOX. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  7. ↑ Farner, Keith (August 14, 2021). "Mississippi State suffers decommitment from JUCO defensive back". Saturday Down South. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  8. ↑ Marcum, Jason (September 13, 2021). "Top-ranked JUCO cornerback DeCarlos Nicholson commits to Kentucky". A Sea Of Blue. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  9. ↑ Keen, Elizabeth (December 15, 2021). "National Signing Day: Kentucky Commitment DeCarlos Nicholson Flips to Mississippi State". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  10. ↑ "DeCarlos Nicholson 2022 Gamelog". Sports Reference. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  11. ↑ "DeCarlos Nicholson 2023 Gamelog". Sports Reference. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  12. ↑ Smith, Danny P. (December 7, 2023). "Bulldogs Nicholson, Ellington enter transfer portal". Starkville Daily News. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
  13. ↑ Truax, Barkley (December 20, 2023). "Mississippi State CB transfer DeCarlos Nicholson commits to USC". On3.com. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
  14. ↑ "DeCarlos Nicholson College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  15. ↑ "Browns sign 12 undrafted free agents". ClevelandBrowns.com. Retrieved May 10, 2026.
  16. ↑ "Browns sign CB Tyron Herring". ClevelandBrowns.com. Retrieved May 27, 2026.
  17. ↑ "Browns' DeCarlos Nicholson: Reverts to Browns' IR". CBSSports.com. May 27, 2026. Retrieved May 28, 2026.
  18. ↑ Gantt, Darin (July 25, 2026). "Panthers make three roster moves on Saturday". Panthers.com.
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