Draft:Nicholas Vattiato

Nicholas William Vattiato (born September 29, 2002) is an American football quarterback for the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders.

Early life and high school
Vattiato grew up in Plantation, Florida and attended University School and then played at TRU Prep Academy for his senior year as the season was canceled at University School. In his high school career, Vattiato completed 284 of his 490 pass attempts for 5,442 yards, 63 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. Vattiato would also rush for 326 yards and three touchdowns. While at TRU Prep Academy, Vattiato completed 92 of his 165 pass attempts for 1,467 yards, 15 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Vattiato would also rush for 85 yards and three touchdowns. He was rated a three-star recruit and committed to play college football at Middle Tennessee State University over offers from Appalachian State, Cincinnati, Coastal Carolina, FIU, Florida Atlantic, Harvard, Holy Cross, Kent State, Kentucky, Liberty, Louisiana, Louisville, Miami (OH), Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Florida, Southern Miss, UAB, Wake Forest and Yale.

College career
During Vattiato's true freshman season in 2021, he played in six games and started five of them. He finished the season by completing 115 out of 171 passing attempts for 1,047 yards and seven touchdowns while rushing for 27 yards. During the 2021 Bahamas Bowl, he completed 23 out of 35 passing attempts for 270 yards with two touchdowns and was named the Offensive Player of the Game. He was also voted to the C-USA All-Freshman team. During the 2022 season, he played in two games and started one of them. He finished the season by completing 30 out of 46 passing attempts for 293 yards and an interception.

During the 2023 season, he was voted a permanent team captain by his teammates. He played in and started all 12 games, finishing the season with a total of 286 out of 428 passing attempts for 3,092 yards, 23 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. He also made 139 rushing attempts for 397 yards and two touchdowns. He was named the TSWA Offensive Player of the Week after his game against UTEP.