Nicholls football head coach Charlie Stubbs is entering his second year as head coach for the Colonels and said it is refreshing to have familiarity with the team this time around.

The Colonels are returning multiple starters on offense and defense, including starting junior quarterback LaQuintin Caston, as well as returning every coach except special teams coach Bobby April from last year. Nicholls went 4-7 last year, but are now used to the way Coach Stubbs practices and his coaching style.

“It’s not easier, but it’s so refreshing that I’ve got leaders in every position and guys that know how I like practice to be held,” Stubbs said. “The young guys that come in watch (upperclassmen) or get in line and see what they do and it’s an easier transition because before everybody was just wandering around. I’m also excited about our coaching staff. We have one coaching change and that’s Ricky Brumfield coming in for Bobby April, which has been a smooth transition, and having all the other coaches used to working together really makes us all seem like we’re on the same page.”

Coach Stubbs said that the biggest difference from this year than last year is the depth that his team has this year. The Colonels have 95 players out practicing and many position battles.

“The thing I feel like right now is that we have more depth, Stubbs said. “We have about 95 guys, we have competitions for positions now, we have more lineman than we’ve had which is a great start because that allows us to practice for the tempo better and again we’re working everybody. Right now I’m trying to see what these newcomers look like, so that we don’t make a mistake and not play somebody when they’re ready.”

Nicholls landed three players on the 2011 Preseason All-Southland Teams with senior defensive back Bobby Felder making first team and junior running back Jesse Turner and junior defensive lineman Edet Udoh making second team.

Turner finished third in the conference last year in rushing as he averaged 70.4 yards rushing per game. He led the conference in average rush per carry with 5.7 and had eight touchdowns before sustaining a season-ending knee injury. Stubbs was high on Turner getting ready for the season this year and said he has been impressed with Turner’s leadership.

“Jesse’s doing a good job leading,” Stubbs said. “Unfortunately right now, he’s still coming off of rehab from that knee injury, but he’s way ahead of schedule. He’s really tentative in meetings. The biggest thing right now is he’s leading even though he’s not in the huddle.”

Joining Turner in the backfield will be Caston as he prepares for his second year under Stubbs’ spread offense. Caston was 7th in the conference last year in passing yards averaged per game with 99.5, but was second in the conference in rushing touchdowns with 10.

“LaQuintin’s picking up,” Stubbs said. “The biggest thing we have to improve on with his game is the passing game, but it’s not just him, it’s protection and the whole package.”

The Colonels opened up their season last year playing three D-1 schools on the road, and this year they will be opening up at home on a Thursday night against Evangel University. The Thursday night game will give the Colonels extra days to prepare for D-1 opponent Western Michigan, who the Colonels lost to 49-14 last season.

“First of all, I wanted to, if I could, open up at home,” Stubbs said. “The reason for that is it’s tough when you’re starting out playing three tough teams and we ended up going 0-3. But from there on we were a 4-4 football team, but we got out of the gate rough. This year, playing on a Thursday, I think we should have an electric crowd.”

The Colonels begin conference play on September 24 when they play Northwestern for the Hall of Fame Weekend, then return home October 8 for Family Day against Central Arkansas. The Colonels homecoming game will be October 22 against Stephen F. Austin and will play rival Southeastern in Hammond on November 17 in the last game of the regular season.

The Colonels will kick off the season against Evangel University September 1 at 6:30 in a “black out game.”