Photo by: Southland Conference

Award winners Tim Rebowe, Jaylon Spears, Mark Barthelemy, and Rasheed Lovelace

FRISCO, Texas – The Southland Conference named Nicholls State University head football coach Tim Rebowe its Coach of the Year for 2023 on Wednesday, Nov. 22.

Rebowe led Nicholls to an undefeated conference season, the team’s first conference title since 2019 and the program’s first outright conference title in school history.

This is the first time Rebowe has won the title in his nine seasons at Nicholls.

Rebowe said that the award is not about him, but rather the team.

“I’m just happy for our guys and this program,” Rebowe said. “[I’m glad] I got the recognition, but it’s not all about me.”

Rebowe said he hopes the team can build on this year’s effort for future seasons and pave the way for more titles in the future.

“You can’t take some of that for granted,” Rebowe said. “The plan after the season [is always] to get your new guys ready and developed in January to go out and play for more championships.”

Three Nicholls players took home major awards from the conference, including the Player of the Year.

Sophomore running back Jaylon Spears [Player of the Year], senior offensive lineman Mark Barthelemy [Offensive Lineman of the Year] and freshman defensive lineman Rasheed Lovelace [Freshman of the Year] all took home individual honors.

Spears is the third Colonel to earn the title of Player of the Year, joining quarterback Chase Fourcade [2018] and defensive lineman Sully Laiche [2019].

Spears put up 1,286 all-purpose yards, which led the conference and ranked ninth in the nation. He also averaged 6.75 yards per carry, which led the nation. Not only did he run, but he also caught passes, averaging 18.29 yards a reception.

Spears had three games with 100 or more rushing yards, each with one or more touchdown rushes. His highest rushing yards total came on Nov. 11 vs Lamar when Spears exploded for 177 yards rushing and two rushing touchdowns, including a 69-yard touchdown run.

Spears said the work he put in during the off-season and during the season is what led him to earn this award.

“I feel blessed,” Spears said. “All the hard work [got me this award].”

Barthelemy blocked for Spears, running back Colin Guggenheim, and quarterback Pat McQuaide allowing Nicholls to rush for 162.4 yards and 1.70 sacks per game this season. 

Barthelemy joins offensive line coach and three-time award winner P.J. Burkhalter [2019-21] as the only two Colonels to win the award.

Barthelemy said the job is not done yet.

“We’re trying to stay focused and undistracted for what [the team] gotta do on Saturday,” Barthelemy said.

Barthelemy said the trio behind him made his job as a lineman so much easier.

“Colin’s [Guggenheim] just gonna run over someone and gains at least five yards while he does so,” Barthelemy said. “Jaylon [Spears] makes everybody miss, and Pat [McQuaide] is a good decision-maker.”

Lovelace started as a nose tackle during his true freshman season, appearing in only two games last season before earning the redshirt. 

Lovelace earned the Freshman of the Year title with his 25 total tackles, two tackles for losses, and a half sack. He is also a finalist for the Jerry Rice Award, which honors the nation’s top freshman.

Lovelace recorded a career and season high of six tackles, and a half sack during the Oct. 21 game at Texas A&M-Commerce, 

Lovelace said he feels great after receiving the award.

“It feels great after not being able to [produce much] on the field last season as a true freshman and then being able to come in this season to produce like I did,” Lovelace said.

Lovelace is the sixth Colonel to earn the title of Freshman of the Year, joining teammate Eli Ennis who won the award last year.

Nicholls travels to Carbondale, Ill. to play Southern Illinois University for round one of the 2023 Football Conference Subdivision Playoffs on Saturday, Nov. 25.

Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. central time and can be seen on ESPN+.

FULL LIST OF NICHOLLS 2023 ALL-CONFERENCE PLAYERS:

First Team All-Conference:

[RB] Jaylon Spears, Collin Guggenheim

[OL] Mark Barthelemy, Evan Roussel

[DB] Tyler Morton, Kendarius Smith

Second Team All Conference:

[QB] Pat McQuaide

[WR] David Robinson Jr.

[TE] Lee Negretto

[DL] Rasheed Lovelace, Kershawn Fisher, Perry Ganci

[LB] Hayden Shaheen

[DB] Jordan Jackson

[PK] Gavin Lasseigne

[P] Kylan Dupre