With 13 returning starters, a more favorable schedule and one of the most talented defenses in the conference, an SLC championship might be in the mix for the Colonels in the 2007 season. The Colonels’ explosive triple option offense returns this season under direction of offensive coordinator H.T. Kinney.
Quarterbacks Vincent Montgomery, Chris Bunch and Zach Chauvin all received significant playing time during the 2006 season and should be poised to show their abilities at the position.
The Colonels’ backfield will be as strong as ever led by senior fullbacks Broderick Cole and Joseph Tobias, whose combined effort helped Nicholls capture the SLC title in 2005.
Cole was named 2007 preseason All-American by College Sporting News. Tobias, who sat out last season, was named SLC Newcomer of the Year for his integral part in the 2005 championship season.
Running backs Zach Morgan, Grant Thorne and Cal Jones will also receive several carries this season. Morgan rushed for 397 yards on 60 carries in 2006 and was given preseason All-SLC second team honors.
Last season the team ranked first in the SLC and sixth overall in the Football Championship Subdivision in rushing offense with 2573 yards with 18 touchdowns.
Part of the rushing success in 2006 could be credited to the offensive line, and it is no secret the Colonels have some holes to fill with the departure of tackle Jacob Bender and guard Jake Housson.
Stepping into the tackle position is junior Jonathon De Avila and filling the left guard slot is senior Ben Gombossy, who was scheduled to start in the 2006 season but suffered a season-ending knee injury earlier in the year.
The Colonels return three starters on the offensive line with junior center Nigel Cormier, junior right tackle Davonn Dutton and senior right guard Jesse Frazier.
If the team wishes to pass more in the 2007 season, they have several talented receivers to choose from. Senior wideout Michael Okoronkwo has led the team the past two years in catches and receiving yards and looks to finish his senior year strong. Junior Patrick Gordon started nine games for the Colonels last year and poses a threat to opposing secondary.
One focus for the 2007 campaign will probably be protecting the rock. Last year the team had a -13 turnover margin that ranked last in the Southland.
If the Colonels offense can keep turnovers to a minimum and run the triple option as they did in 2005, the team has the potential to shake up the FCS.
Since becoming defensive coordinator, coach Steve Ellis has created an aggressive, attacking defense, ranking among the best in the SLC year after year.
In 2006 the defensive unit was the best in the SLC in scoring defense, allowing opponents to a mere 20.7 points a game. As well as allowing few points, the Colonels pass defense also finished first allowing 148.9 yards a game.
This year the Colonels will present a multiple 4-3 scheme that should be more favorable to the front seven.
The defensive line lost just one player from the 2006 team and returns three starters with Matt Fairchild, Chris Noble and Dominique Cooper, who is likely to see time at linebacker as well. Jairus Jarvis is also get some playing time on the outside.
Junior transfer Solomon Ona from Mississippi State showed signs in the spring that he could be an immediate contributor in the trenches.
The Achilles heal of the Colonels defense in the 2007 season will be the linebackers. The team graduated or lost eligibility in all three starters last season.
Cooper, who recorded 31 tackles last season, is likely to add some depth on the weak side. Mike Heyl and Kyle Hughes will see time on the strong side while Jarrod Fanguy and Yahua Willis will be in the middle. Adrian Kindred, junior transfer from Clemson, will also be battling for playing time on the weak side position.
The Colonels defensive backfield’s talent and depth is the anchor for the defense this season.
SLC Newcomer of the Year Kareem Moore returns to the free safety position after racking up 68 total tackles, one pick and one forced fumble last season.
Speedy Dominique Daniels takes over at the strong safety position after playing a backup role in 2006.
The two Southern Miss transfers Lance Moore and Ladarius Webb are also playmakers who could see significant playing time at safety. Both were highly touted recruits in high school and started on special teams at USM. Webb ranked fifth on the Golden Eagles roster for tackles with a total of 58.
Senior cornerbacks Jermaine Boggan and Lester Brooks are both returning starters from last season who combined for 51.5 total tackles. Boggan was named SLC Player of Week for his role in the season opener by intercepting two passes and recovering a fumble for a touchdown.
The Colonels special teams should pick up where it left off last year with returning players Alex Romero, Ross Schexnayder and Sean Comeaux.
The Colonels were picked sixth in the Southland Conference preseason Coaches’ poll and a humble seventh in the SID preseason poll.
Despite being heavy underdogs, the Colonels football is optimistic about taking on the Rice University Owls in the opening game of the 2007 football season.
This will be the first ever meeting with the Owls; however, familiarity exists because the Owl’s new head coach is David Bailiff, former head coach at Texas State.
Bailiff went to Rice in the spring after the Owl’s previous head coach Todd Graham left for Tulsa.
The Owl’s quarterback Chase Clement and All-American wide receiver Jarrett Dilliard, who had 1247 yards and 21 touchdowns last season, will test the Colonels’ secondary.
Rice’s spread offense will remain the same, but the 4-3 defensive set the Owls ran last year will be changed to a 4-2-5, which makes the Owls desperate for defensive linemen and even more vulnerable to the rush, which is bad considering the Owls defense was among the bottom feeders in FBS last season ranking 113th in total defense and 112th in rushing defense.
Nicholls opens the 2007 season at Rice in Houston, Texas Sept. 1. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. The Colonels home slate begins Sept. 8 when Nicholls hosts Southern Arkansas at 6 p.m. in John L. Guidry Stadium.
