Chris Nickson will start at quarterback in Thursday's season opener, Vanderbilt coach Bobby Johnson announced Tuesday.

The redshirt senior won the job over redshirt junior Mackenzi Adams, who started the last six games of the 2007 season and compiled a 2-4 record.

"I've always wanted to be a leader, be somebody special for the organization," Nickson said. "I have an opportunity to do that, beginning Thursday night."

Johnson expressed great confidence in both quarterbacks to perform well if needed as they have done in the past.

"Chris is healthy and ready to go, confident," Johnson said. "We expect him to play really well. If Mackenzi's in the game, we expect him to play really well."

Click here for the full story by Mo Patton of the Tennessean.