The Nicholls State University football team spent the summer improving the team, primarily on the defensive side of the ball.

The Colonels were ranked last in rushing yards allowed in the Southland Conference. In the first scrimmage, the defense limited the offense to 89 yards on 32 carries. In the second scrimmage, they limited the offense to only 60 yards on 31 carries.

Senior defensive lineman Cole Frazier said, “The run defense has improved, and we worked our butts off.”

Last season, the Colonels ran the ball more efficiently than through the air. This season, the Colonels are deep in depth and have four quarterbacks competing for the starting job. In both scrimmages, the offense improved in the air. In the first scrimmage, the quarterbacks combined for 295 yards passing, completing 22-of -39 passes.

Senior quarterback Beaux Hebert’s best performance was in the second scrimmage. He was 8-of-11 for 83 yards and 2 touchdowns.

“I am looking forward to having a fun season with these guys I have been playing with for five years,” Hebert said.

Senior quarterback Kalen Henderson threw for 80 yards and two touchdowns. He is looking forward to the first game against Air Force. “We want to get on that plane and come back home undefeated,” Henderson said.

Junior quarterback Tuskani Figaro played in 11 and started 8 games last season. In 2013, Figaro ranked second in the conference and set a school record with 1,003 total yards rushing. His best performance was in the first scrimmage. He completed 5-of-6 passes for 50 yards and 1 touchdown.

Head coach Charlie Stubbs plans to make a decision on the starting quarterback position at the end of this week.

The Colonels usually cancel practice when it rains. With the lack of precipitation, the Colonels have had 19 practices. The team is only allowed to hold 28 practices prior to the season opener.
Stubbs’ goal for the week is to get the team rested and healthy.

“My goal for the week is to get them feeling better and get the bumps and bruises healed so we will be ready to go,” Stubbs said.

The biggest improvement he has seen from the Colonels is more competitions for positions.

“We have 95 solid players out here right now. That’s a plus,” Stubbs said. “I feel we are working towards having more depth so that if injuries do occur, we have guys that can replace them and keep us playing at a high level.”

Stubbs believes the team’s biggest challenge this season will be levels of confidence.

“Confidence, I have a lot of confidence. I want them to believe in themselves. Many of them do, but we need all of them to,” Stubbs said. “The challenge we have here at Nicholls is that we play very good teams in the beginning of the season. It’s an uphill climb, but not impossible.”