B

Nolan Bissell almost quit playing football after his freshman season at Jefferson County.

Carson-Newman, and Jeff County coach Spencer Riley, are very glad he decided to stick it out.

On Wednesday, Bissell signed to stay at home for the next four years and play football at Carson-Newman.

“This day means a lot,” Bissell said. “I feel like I have put four hard years in here at Jefferson County, and I’m looking forward to spending four more years in Jefferson County. I’m really excited for my four years at Carson-Newman.”

This past season for Bissell was a special one as he led the team in multiple defensive statistics. However, it wasn’t always easy for him as he didn’t know if he wanted to even continue playing after his first year.

Ultimately, it was the people around him that led him to keep on going over the last three years.

“Really, it was just the guys I was around,” Bissell said about deciding to continue on with football. “Knowing the guys would be behind me meant a lot to me. I’m not a quitter, so I knew I had to stay here and finish it up.”

Bissell had looks from UVA-Wise, Tusculum, ETSU and Centre College, but it was his hometown school that really stood out and made his college decision an easy choice.

“It’s just a christian university, and I am a big christian guy,” Bissell said about Carson-Newman. “The way they treated me from the start was just love and support. You couldn’t ask for a better place.”

Bissell is coming off a senior season where he led the team in tackles with 131, including a sack and nine tackles for loss. Bissell also had a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries, one being for a touchdown.

Bissell was named to the All-Region Team, the All-Lakeway Team and was the Team Co-Defensive Player of the Year.

“To finish my career up here leading almost every defensive statistic means a lot to me,” Bissell said.

His senior season was capped off with a trip to the 6A playoffs for the second straight season as the senior class is leaving behind a legacy that put Jeff County football back on the map.

“That really means a lot to me to just be able to set an example for the younger classes to come,” Bissell said.

While excited for him to move on to the next level, Jefferson County coach Spencer Riley said he will miss Bissell and all the leadership qualities he brings to the table.

“He’s just been a great leader over the defensive group these past two years,” Riley said. “He’s been solid with what he’s done. Watching him and how he’s changed his body and how he has made himself into a football player, that’s caught the younger kids eye. He shows that if you work for it, things will pay off if you have the talent and the skills. Nolan does, and he will go to Carson-Newman and have a fine career there. We’re going to miss him.”

Riley also said that he will use Bissell as an example to the younger kids for years to come on what it takes to be a successful football player.

“We do that all the time already,” Riley said. “We tell the sophomores and freshmen that Nolan Bissell was a guy that was 170 pounds when he was a freshman. He was a tiny guy that didn’t run great, but now he’s a football player and runs well and is a physical looking kid.”

Bissell still has a few months left at Jefferson County. However, he is already excited for what is to come at Carson-Newman and just moving on to the next chapter of his life.

“I am just looking forward to working out with the guys and meeting everyone,” Bissell said. “I know there’s going to be guys from all different types of areas, so I am just excited to meet them all.”