After a four-year career playing halfback and fullback for the Colonels, running back Colt Colletti is preparing to take his game to the next level as he takes a shot at the National Football League.Projected as a possible late seventh round or free agent acquisition, Colletti said he decided to take his chance at the NFL immediately following his senior season as a Colonel.

“I knew after the season that I wanted to try my luck in the NFL,” Colletti said. “I knew I would have a shot and began looking at agents.”

Upon researching agents, Colletti selected Mark Bloom of Fusion Sports in New Orleans.

“They came into my home and met my family,” Colletti said. “They were real nice and treated us well. Basically, they won us over. After, I found out they were NFL-certified, so I chose to go with Fusion Sports.”

Bloom said Colletti is a one-of-a-kind athlete who could draw interest from anyone who wants a hard worker on the team.

“Colt is an extremely hard worker,” Bloom said. “He works hard every week and deserves a shot at the pros.”

Colletti has worked out in front of the Saints, Packers, Cowboys and Lions, and Bloom said Colletti impressed those teams.

“He had a great workout in front of the Cowboys,” Bloom said. “He has all the tools any team needs. He’s coachable and can make the big play when you need him to.”

Besides Colletti, Fusion Sports is the agency to eight other possible draft prospects as well as Arena Football League players Rovell Hamilton of the Tampa Bay Storm and Troy Bergeron of the Georgia Force. Other clients of Fusion Sports include Kelly Gibson of the PGA Tour, former Saints quarterback and Arena Football League II coach John Fourcade, professional tennis player Michael Kogan and former LSU and current Utah Jazz guard Randy Livingston.

In his four years at Nicholls, Colletti played both halfback and fullback as he compiled 2,114 yards and currently ranks fourth all-time in rushing in Nicholls State history.

Colletti earned all-Southland Conference first team honors in 2003 and 2004, while garnering all-Southland second team honors in 2002.

Summing up his four-year career at Nicholls, Colletti said it’s been fun.

“I really enjoyed playing for the Colonels,” Colletti said. “It’s been a great ride for me and a pleasure to play under coach Jay Thomas. Now I hope to take all I’ve learned here and bring my game to the next level.”

If Colletti does indeed find himself on an NFL roster, it will be the first time ever that Nicholls State has produced back-to-back players in the NFL with Colletti’s former teammate Chris Thompson getting drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars last year.

“Colt’s an excellent athlete,” Bloom said. “We hope to see his name on an NFL roster within the next couple of weeks.