The 6-foot-6, 240-pound Nickson could develop into a variety of positions on the football field while also doubling up as an interesting basketball prospect
Steve Wiltfong
Weatherford (Okla.) High’s CJ Nickson is one of the most versatile prospects in the 2025 class.
The 6-foot-6, 240-pound Nickson is a talented tight end, edge rusher, outside linebacker prospect. He’s also an intriguing basketball player. He has Division-I opportunities regarding everything listed, as he brings tremendous potential on both the gridiron and hardwood.
“All the stars aligning, he wants the opportunity to play both,” Nickson’s father Curtis told 247Sports.
Tabbed by 247Sports as the No. 1 recruit in Oklahoma, No. 5 edge in the country and No. 45 prospect overall, Nickson has been dominating both for quite some time.
“He’s a humble kid,” Curtis said. “Just a blue-collar, hard-working kid, all about getting better. Team player. Unselfish. A loving kid. Always got a smile on his face. He got an infectious smile and personality, people gravitate towards him.”
Scholarship gravitating to him regarding football include Oklahoma, Auburn, Baylor, Kansas, Notre Dame, Mississippi State, Georgia, Tennessee and LSU. Basketball includes Tulsa and Oral Roberts.
“I knew he had the potential too early on,” the elder Nickerson said. His college basketball journey took him from UAB to Mississippi Gulf Coast to Southwest Oklahoma State. “He’s been around sports his whole life. I had him young, had him as a freshman in college. When I went to college he was with me, he was always around sports. Football he fell in love with, that was his first love. It kind of fell to the back-burner when he got to maybe sixth grade. He wanted to play skill positions and he was bigger and stronger than everybody so they put a red sticker on him and put him on the o-line. At the same time he started playing competitive basketball, and basketball moved to the forefront.”
Productive football seasons as a freshman and sophom*ore put the pigskin back on the priority list. Nickson also still loves the round leather as he and his teammates work to make a deep run in the state playoffs and there is opportunity for both on the next level.
“There’s a few schools, Mississippi State, Oklahoma has been talking about it or said it’s a done deal if he wants to do that,” Nickson said. “Those are the main two that have been talking about it. It’s been thrown around at a few others.”
Once Nickson figures that out, then it will be about settling in at a position on the next level.
“Auburn is recruiting him at tight end,” Curtis said. “Mississippi State both sides of the ball, defensive end and tight end. LSU tight end, Tennessee tight end, Oklahoma State defensive end, Texas Tech outside linebacker, Baylor tight end. Sooners Coach (Miguel) Chavis and Coach V (Brent Venables) want him on the defensive side of the ball but the OC got something to say about that too. They’re talking about putting packages in on the offensive side as well.”
With all that being said, Nickson’s decision isn’t just about athletics. Oklahoma has been able to showcase what they offer away from that arena and other schools will get a chance to match.
“I think Oklahoma has set the bar,” Curtis said. “We like everything. Everything we love and like about Oklahoma has nothing to do with football. It’s about the culture, what Coach V, what he’s preaching about the S.O.U.L. Mission, the development of men is what’s big. The family, the closeness, how everything is real organic with them. The coaching staff has been the same since day one. What we seen this time last year is the same people we talk to today.”
The Nickson camp is putting together visits for after basketball season.
“I know for sure we’ll be doing Mississippi State, Oklahoma State, Auburn, Georgia and maybe a few others,” the elder Nickson said. “Definitely those. Think LSU is going to be on the list and Tennessee.
Nickson also talked about what he’s looking for in a place for his son.
“I think someone that’s going to be an extension of us, some of our core values, hardworking, trustworthy, let your actions speak louder than your words,” he said. “Someone that’s going to push him. Just grounded people. Real down-to-earth people. Genuine people. We’re laid-back, no-nonsense type of people.”
