Nicholls football head coach Charlie Stubbs signed 22 prep and junior college standouts on National Signing Day last week.Twelve of the signees are from Louisiana, and of the 22 inked on National Signing Day, five are arriving mid-year. The other 17 will join the Colonel family in the 2010 fall semester.
“We are very excited about this group of young men,” Stubbs said about his first signing class at the helm of the Colonel football program. “We feel like we accomplished a lot in a little amount of time, and we feel like we got not just some very good athletes, but true student athletes that value the importance of education.”
Of the 22 signees, three are quarterbacks that have all played in some form of a multiple pro-offense in high school-Beaux Hebert of Greater Atlanta Christian, Landry Klann of McCollum, and Justin Rosborough of Ft. Bend Hightower.
Hebert is the most notable name on the list as the youngest son of the former NFL quarterback Bobby Hebert. He passed for over 1,800 yards while also posting 18 touchdown passes in his senior season in 2009.
Klann was the Texas District 29-4A Offensive MVP, accounting for 1,928 yards passing, 1,110 yards rushing and 43 total touchdowns as a senior, while Rosborugh was 10-1 as a starter in 2009 and passed for 1,433 yards and 22 scores.
“With the new direction of offensive philosophy that I bring, we had to recruit some top-notch quarterbacks that over time will be developed to execute all phases of the offense. These young men have not only exceptional athletic ability but great leadership qualities,” Stubbs said about his quarterback recruits.
The Louisiana standouts on the list include South Lafourche duo of offensive lineman Rafe Plaisance, an All-District and All-Region selection, and tight end Mark Mayberry, who led the Tarpons to a 10-2 record and the District Championship in 2009.
Other homegrown high school talents signing with Nicholls include tight end Nick Scelfo of St. Michael the Archangel, tight end Josh Dudley of Jesuit, running back Stephen Richmond of DeRidder, linebacker Miles O’Brien of Archbishop Rummel, linebacker Warren Lennix Jr. of Destrehan, defensive back Toren Joseph of St. Augustine, defensive back Jordan Hanberry of John Curtis Christian, defensive backs Brian Lewis and Jonathan Smith of Edna Karr and defensive back Siegan Vergenal of Westgate.
Scelfo was an All-District First Team selection for three years and was named All-State First Team as a senior in 2009. Dudley had a total of 27 receptions for 430 yards and three touchdowns his senior season in 2009.
Richmond notched All-District First Team recognition his senior and junior seasons and accounted for 1,182 yards with 219 carries his senior season. O’Brien made All-District First Team honors from “The Times Picayune” and WWL and was named twice to the Clarion Herald Elite Defensive Team.
Lennix Jr. totaled 60 tackles with seven sacks and three fumble recoveries his senior season in 2009. Joseph registered a total of 72 total tackles, three sacks and one interception his senior season in 2009. Also, Joseph received Clarion Herald Player of the Week in a game against LaGrange High School for his outstanding play in the game.
Hanberry was named All-District, All-Metro and All-State First Team his senior season in 2009, accounting for 65 tackles to go along with six interceptions and three returned-for-touchdowns.
The tandem of Lewis and Smith led their squad to the quarterfinals of the state playoffs while going 11-2. Lewis recorded a total of 20 career interceptions, while Smith finished his high school career with 120 career total tackles.
Vergenal collected honors of All-District First Team and All-Acadiana Second Team in 2009 while totaling 71 tackles, five tackles for a loss, two interceptions, three pass breakups and a forced fumble his senior year.
“It did not take me long to realize after studying video and visiting with local high schools that Louisiana has some very well-coached teams and exceptional student athletes to recruit. It will always be our philosophy to start our recruiting local and expand when needed,” Stubbs said.
Out-of-state prep players to make the transition to NSU are running back Marcus Washington of Foley in Lillian, Ala. and wide receiver Calvin Davison Jr. of Blount in Prichard, Ala.
Washington was an All-County selection the last three seasons, while Davidson was an All-Region Second Team member.
Washington set new records at Foley High School. He now holds the school record for most receptions in a game with 19 and most touchdowns in a season with 22.
Davison recorded a total of 65 receptions for 965 yards and 14 touchdowns his senior year.
Mid-year student athletes to make the list include wide receivers Floyd Chism and Kenyad Blair, defensive tackles Gavin Whitfield and Michael Billingsley and kicker/punter Andrew Dolan. Chism and Dolan are mid-year high school graduates, while Blair, Whitfield and Billinglsy are all junior college additions. All are enrolled in classes for the spring semester.
With National Signing Day in the books, the Colonels welcome their new additions with spring practice around the corner.
