BY: Davey Chadwick (WMSB Co-Founder)

If you haven’t heard of Love Is Blind, it’s one of Netflix’s most talked-about reality TV shows — a social experiment where singles attempt to find love without ever seeing each other face-to-face — that is, until they’re engaged. Yes, you read that correctly. The show’s unique approach flips the script on modern dating, challenging participants to form emotional connections without the distractions of physical appearances or social status.

This season, Love Is Blind featured William & Mary alum Nick Dorka (W&M ’17), who took a leap of faith and joined the experiment. As a former kicker for the Tribe football team, Nick’s journey from Zable Stadium to Netflix stardom is nothing short of fascinating.

We caught up with Nick to discuss his time on Love Is Blind, what led him to join the show, and how his experiences at William & Mary helped prepare him for the high-pressure, emotionally charged world of reality TV. Whether you’re a fan of the show or just curious about Nick’s incredible story, be sure to check out Love Is Blind on Netflix — now streaming — and dive into our exclusive interview below!

WMSB: Nick — I appreciate you jumping on here to do this with us. I fondly remember your time here as a punter and kicker for the William & Mary Tribe. And now you’ve come across some newfound fame from being on Love Is Blind on Netflix. I’ve got a lot of questions here, and I’m sure this conversation could go any which way.

Nick: It probably will, right?

WMSB: Exactly. So, first question — what initially drew you to Love Is Blind? Was there a particular moment or reason that made you say, “I’m going to do this”? And what’s the story of how you got signed up for Love Is Blind?

Nick: First off, I want to say thanks for having me on. I always appreciate when people reach out, especially my fellow William & Mary folks. Love Is Blind was something so unique and different in terms of how society and dating work. I’m kind of a risk-taker in life. I like to put myself in uncomfortable spots and do things that others wouldn’t normally do.

You know, there’s so much that goes into dating — the superficial stuff, the facade of appearances, your job, your Instagram, all of that. I’d never really dated much, so the idea of retro-engineering the process and getting to know someone before seeing them was really enticing. Dating in D.C. especially can feel so status-based and job-focused, so this experiment was a way for me to test myself, make myself uncomfortable, and see if it worked.

WMSB: How did you get involved with this? Was there some sort of place that said, “Hey, if you’re interested in a potential Netflix show, sign up here”? Or did they reach out to you? What was that process like?

Nick: They do everything — sign-up pages, sliding into DMs [direct messages on social media], creating Hinge profiles, even reaching out on LinkedIn. For me, they slid into my DMs. I think I got reached out to in March, and we didn’t film until October. The filming took six weeks, from October to November, if you made it to your wedding day.

They didn’t tell us we were on the show until ten days before flying out to the pods in Hollywood. The process involved ten to twelve interviews. The whole time, they kept it secretive, saying, “You’re on the outside looking in.” It was kind of a joke to me at first — I knew about the show, but what were the chances they’d pick me? Then, ten days before we left, they said, “Nick — pack your bags, you’re going to be on the show.” It was spur-of-the-moment and nerve-wracking, like the kind of nerves I hadn’t felt since football at William & Mary. But it was exciting.

WMSB: You touched on this already, but shifting gears naturally into the next question — William & Mary emphasizes producing well-rounded graduates, like yourself. Are there specific lessons or habits from your time at the College that helped you navigate the unique challenges of being on a reality TV show like Love Is Blind?

Nick: Playing football definitely helped. Being a kicker means all eyes are on you when you’re kicking, similar to having cameras in your face during high-pressure moments. Sports and my athletic background gave me an advantage — I didn’t feel the need to act differently or pretend to be someone else.

But one thing I didn’t realize until after graduating was the weight the William & Mary name carries. Whether it’s in the business world or the sports world, that name means something. You see guys like Mike Tomlin and Sean McDermott, two of the best NFL coaches, who are also William & Mary grads. It’s a small but powerful network. When people see William & Mary on your resume, they know you’re dedicated, ambitious, and hard-working. That’s something I’ve really come to appreciate.

WMSB: 100 percent. We see that every day with folks who follow and support the William & Mary Sports Blog — a small but mighty group of alums and students who love William & Mary and the Tribe. Thinking back to your playing days, do you have any favorite memories from your time with the team? A favorite game, kick, or off-the-field story?

Nick: The best moment was the season we were CAA Co-Champs with Richmond. That year, we had an amazing group of guys — Luke Rhodes, Mikal Abdul-Saboor, younger guys like me, Andrew Caskin, and Chris Durant. Everyone was on the same page, and we had a lot of fun because we were winning.

One memory that stands out is our game against Richmond, the last of the season. It was just before halftime, and Richmond was up 7-3. They sent me out for a 53-yarder — I nailed it. I ended up with three field goals that game, which was during my All-American season. Moments like that stay with you. Football is a brotherhood, and William & Mary is a brotherhood and sisterhood. Those times shaped who I am today.

WMSB: Shifting gears a bit — what do you think were sort of the biggest lessons you’ve learned from the Love is Blind experience overall? And can you share an example of how it’s changed your perspective on relationships or life in general?

Nick: The biggest lesson I learned is how important it is to be open and vulnerable. I’d never lived with anyone before, and I’d also never been in love. Those were completely new experiences for me, and they taught me a lot about myself. I learned what I had to give to a relationship, but also what I wanted to receive.

It’s not just about you anymore — you’re caring for someone else, and that’s eye-opening. Everything’s heightened in the Love Is Blind experiment — living with someone, getting ready to get married — it really forces you to reflect. I came out of it knowing exactly what kind of partner I want and what kind of man I am. Nobody’s perfect, but I’m solid in who I am. It was a huge learning experience.

WMSB: Now that the show is over, are you still in touch with any of your castmates? And if so, are there any that you’ve stayed closer to? What’s that dynamic like?

Nick: Yeah, I’m cool with all the guys. I would say the people I’m closest with on the show are the two couples — Taylor and Garrett, and Ty and Ashley. I’m also cool with Tim — Tim and I play a lot of golf. The three guys I stay closest to are Ty, Garrett, and Tim. We see each other about once a month, and we’ve got a group chat going.

I’ve met some of the women over the last couple of months who I didn’t meet on the show, and they’re really cool. The only person I guess I’m not cool with, is Hannah! It’s weird because I’ve tried to reach out and be friendly. I’m like, “Look, we went through this together — no one understands it but us.” After seeing a couple of episodes, I reached out to talk because it’s a lot to process, especially for her with how she was shown.

She didn’t respond, though. She blocked me after the reunion. But hey — we’re not losing sleep over it, right? That’s her way of doing things, and I respect it. But I’ve definitely created a couple of brothers for life.

WMSB: You can only control what you can control. How have you adjusted to being in the public eye?

Nick: It’s definitely an adjustment! Every time I go out, people want to take selfies and pictures. “Hey, you’re Nick D!” is something I hear a lot now. But honestly, I love it. It’s cool to meet people and connect with them — it’s the least I can do after all the support I’ve received. At the same time, it’s also a little overwhelming because I like structure and knowing what’s next. Life has become more unpredictable, but that’s part of the ride.

WMSB: Have you had any crazy fan experiences?

Nick: Oh, absolutely. The craziest one? A few weeks ago, I was out at one of my favorite spots, and this woman just lifted her shirt and asked me to sign her chest. I had to tell her, “Respectfully, I can’t do that.” But I did offer her a hug! It was funny but definitely not something I expected.

WMSB: Wow! Let’s pivot to something that’s got to be very exciting: your career in real estate. I know you’ve been growing your business. How’s that going?

Nick: It’s been amazing! Earlier this year, I started my own real estate team, and the show has definitely helped. People reach out saying, “Hey, Nick, I saw you on Love Is Blind — we’re relocating or selling our home.” It’s expanded my network so much. I’ve been busy balancing real estate with everything else, but I wouldn’t trade it. Building something sustainable is my focus, and I’m excited for what’s ahead.

WMSB: What’s next for you?

Nick: I want to build something sustainable. A lot of people will ride the wave [of a reality TV show] and just let it die down after a couple of months or a year. I want to build something sustainable where I can look back in 10 years and say, “You know what, we’re thriving, we’re doing well, and you’ve accomplished what you wanted to.”

Real estate is definitely my focus, but I’d be dumb not to pursue other opportunities. I’ve got some modeling shoots coming up, some sports broadcasting gigs, and partnerships with brands that I’m helping out with. In terms of shows, I’ve heard things like Perfect Match or Dancing with the Stars, and I’d definitely consider them. But I’m also thinking bigger picture — like broadcasting, media, or other sustainable paths.

It’s not just about being on another reality TV show and riding that wave for a couple of months. I’m kind of shooting for the stars, and I think that’s what life’s about. If you set a goal, set it high — make it hard to achieve, but when you get there, it feels amazing.

Oh, and who knows — I might even come down and help broadcast a William & Mary football game next year! Anything for the Tribe.

WMSB: So you’re telling me we need to warn William & Mary broadcasting legend, Jay Colley, that you’re coming for his job. Is that what you’re saying?

Nick: I would like to help him out with his job. I don’t want to fire him, you know, but he might need another voice on that.

WMSB: Yeah, for sure. No, you’d be great. I think you’d crush it as a color commentator, leading halftime interviews and beyond. That’d be awesome.

Nick: It would be awesome.

WMSB: We’ll have to let Jay know. Jay is a good friend of the Blog who’s given us a lot of support, especially on social media. So shoutout to Jay Colley there for sure!

WMSB: One closing question for you, Nick. And really, it’s an open-ended question — if you could close by saying one thing to your William & Mary classmates, fans of the show, or both, what would it be?

Nick: Well, I mean what I mentioned earlier — the Tribe network is so exclusive, so interesting, so prominent. No matter what line of work you’re in, really hone into it and use it. The other thing is, it is a tough school, right? There were a lot of long study sessions, Swem sessions, or, if you’re doing athletics, balancing sports and academics. But you’re going to thank yourself if you work your ass off now, right? You work so hard to get into this school — continue to work and grind.

I know William & Mary parties can be pretty crazy [sarcasm detected!]. I know Paul’s Deli can turn up a little bit. But hey — have your priority, have your goal, have your focus in mind that you wake up with every day and work towards that. Don’t let anything kind of diminish or sway you a certain way. I’m always going to be part of the Tribe. And, you know, I have some of my best friends that I’ve created, not only through football there, but also being in Kappa Sig. There’s a reason why the school is so small, and it’s a good reason, right? It’s very exclusive, and it’s a network and community that really rallies behind you.

One last thing to add is just be yourself. Being yourself has gotten you into this school, gotten you to where you’re at in life. Don’t switch up, and don’t let anyone switch you up. It’s important to have clarity and to picture yourself where you want to be in 5 or 10 years. So keep working and go Tribe!

WMSB: I feel like that’s the perfect way to end it. Nick, on behalf of the William & Mary community, it’s been a really fun ride watching you, starting as a kicker and punter at William & Mary, excelling there, and then seeing you jump into this crazy reality show on Netflix that we all got to watch you be a part of.

As a fellow member of the Tribe, I think all of us are really proud of the way that you were just a very genuine, kind, caring, open, and transparent person on the show. That’s obviously who you are, and I think that’s come through in this interview. So keep being you. And we really appreciate you taking the time for this interview. Go Tribe!

Nick: Thanks, that really means a lot. I appreciate the support. Go Tribe!