The Nicholls football program signed 29 standout athletes on the 2008 national signing day, including seven offensive linemen, five running backs, two quarterbacks, two fullbacks and many defensive specialists.
The recruiting class was finalized last Wednesday and included 11 players from Louisiana and six from both Mississippi and Texas.
Florida, Tennessee, California, Colorado, Alabama and Georgia each had one player to sign a letter of intent with the Colonels.
The signing group consists of five mid-year transfers who have been on campus since the start of the spring semester.
The players include linebacker Jeremy Evans from Gulf Coast Community College, offensive lineman Josh Green from Modesto Junior College, fullback Trey Hopson from Gulf Coast Community College, running back Marlin Meeks from Coahoma Community College and running back Albert Williams from Gulf Coast Community College.
“We are very excited about our class this year,” head football coach Jay Thomas said. “We feel like we have filled a lot of our needs, and feel like it is a very balanced class.”
Headlining the 2008 signing class is Scotlandville Magnet High quarterback Laquinton Caston. In his only season playing quarterback in 2007, Caston passed for more than 1,200 yards and rushed for more than 600 yards.
The dual-threat quarterback was named All-District and given a two-star rating by Scout.com.
Prior to playing quarterback in 2007, Caston was listed as an athlete and primarily played defensive back.
During the recruiting process, Caston said most schools were recruiting him to play in the defensive secondary, but he wanted to keep playing under center.
“All the other schools who were recruiting me wanted me to play defensive back, but I want the chance to play quarterback,” Caston said.
Another player to watch in the 2008 season will be the two-star defensive back recruit Tabbaris Hicks from Holmes Community College.
He is a speedster with the ability to run a 40-yard dash in 4.45 seconds.
At the free safety position, Hicks could see a fair amount of playing time in the 2008 season.
The Colonels also picked up a great prospect in two-star defensive back Bobby Felder from McComb High School.
On the offensive side of the ball, the prospect accumulated over 1,000 yards rushing and 675 yards receiving for a combined 21 touchdowns.
While playing at cornerback, Felder recorded 76 tackles and seven interceptions in his senior season. More impressive than Felder’s statistics was being named to the All-Combine team by Scout.com after a solid performance at the prospect combine held in New Orleans.
A college recruiting combine is an event held to showcase the abilities and skills of recruits across the country.
Felder said he liked the coaches at Nicholls and was interested in signing with the Colonels because he has family in the Thibodaux area.
“I like the coaches there (Nicholls) and my brother lives out that way,” Felder said.
Nicholls added local talent on the roster with the signing of quarterback Hosea Chatman from Ellender High School and defensive back Kerry Guidry from H.L. Bourgeois.
Guidry, an All-District and All-Bayou Region player, had a breakout season in 2007 recording 79 tackles, two interceptions and a safety.
Nicholls has yet to release the 2008 football schedule.