Table of Contents 2012 OUTLOOK Quick Facts...2 Season Outlook...3 Position Breakdown...4 Depth Chart...7 Roster...8 2012 Opponents...10 PLAYERS Biographies...13 COACHES Head Coach Charlie Stubbs...31 Chuck Hepola...33 Jeremy Atwell...34 Ricky Brumfield...35 Justin Anderson...36 Edward Dillon...37 Matt Clark...38 Tyler Donaldson...38 Mario Jeberaeel...39 2011 REVIEW Game-by-Game...40 Results/Honors...43 Statistics...44 SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE Southland Bio...46 Members/Map...47 All-Time Standings...49 2011 Stats...50 HISTORY All-Time Series Records...52 Individual Records...55 Team Records...57 Season Leaders...58 Career Leaders...60 Accolades...61 Colonels Drafted...63 All-Time Letterwinners...64 All-Time Results...68 Postseason Results...73 NICHOLLS This is Nicholls...75 President/Athletic Director...76 Athletic Administration...77 Athletic Trainers/ Coaches...78 John L. Guidry Stadium...79 Hall of Fame...80 MEDIA Media Information...81 Restaurant & Hotel...83 Directions/ Map...84 2012 Media Guide Credits The 2012 Nicholls State University football media guide was produced by the Nicholls Office of Media Relations for Athletics to assist media members in their coverage of Colonel football. Should you need any additional information regarding football, please contact Jamie Bustos, assistant director of media relations, at (985) 448-4281. The 2012 Nicholls State University football media guide was written, edited, and researched by the Nicholls Office of Media Relations for Athletics. Layout and design provided by Jerad David, assistant director of University Printing and Design Services. Also special thanks to opposing SID offices for their assistance and members of the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff s Office for all their hard work and dedication. Photography is accredited to Misty McElroy, University Photojournalist, and Lisa Neal. Special thanks to the NFL teams who also provided photos. www.geauxcolonels.com 1
Quick Facts Quick Facts Location:...Thibodaux, La. 70301 Enrollment:...6,404 Founded:...1948 Nickname:...Colonels Colors:... Red and Grey Conference...Southland Conference (I-FCS) President:...Dr. Stephen T. Hulbert (State University of New York at Albany 72) Athletics Director:...Rob Bernardi (Cal-Northridge 83) Associate AD/SWA:...DoBee Plaisance (Southern Miss 86) Athletic Department Phone:...(985) 448-4794 Ticket Office Phone:...(985) 448-4790 Staff Information Head Coach:...Charlie Stubbs (Brigham Young University 78) Stubbs at Nicholls:... 5-17/3rd Season Stubbs Overall:... Same Stubbs Office Phone:...(985) 448-4802 Best Time to Reach Stubbs:...Through SID, Weekly SLC Conference Call Offensive Coord./Quarterbacks:... Charlie Stubbs (Brigham Young University 78) Assoc. Head Coach/RB/Recruiting:...Chuck Hepola (Evangel, 91) Asst. Head Coach/Defensive Coord./LB:...Jeremy Atwell (SE Missouri State, 99) Special Teams/Safeties:... Ricky Brumfield (Utah State 99) Wide Receivers:... Justin Anderson (Brigham Young University 02) Tight Ends:...Matt Clark (Western Washington, 08) Cornerbacks:...Edward Dillon (Grand Canyon 09) Defensive Line:...Tyler Donaldson (New Mexico, 07) Offensive Line:...Mario Jeberaeel (UNLV, 09) Head Athletic Trainer:... Krista Bayers (Fresno State 08) Strength and Conditioning:... Brain Thomas (Nicholls 03) Equipment Manager:... Kerry Conner (Northwestern State 03) Team Information 2011 Overall Record:... 1-10 2011 Southland Conference Record:... 0-7 2011 Home Record:... 1-4 2011 Road Record:... 0-6 Letterwinners Returning:...52 (26 offense, 22 defense, 4 specialist) Letterwinners Lost:...18 (8 offense, 10 defense, 0 specialist) Offensive Starters Returning:...7 Offensive Starters Lost:...4 Defensive Starters Returning:...7 Defensive Starters Lost:...4 Specialists Returning:...3 Specialists Lost:...0 Home Field/Capacity:...Guidry Stadium/12,800 Playing Surface:...AstroTurf 3D Grass Base Offense:...Multiple Pro Base Defense:... 3-4 Athletic Media Relations Asst. Director of Media Relations/FB Contact:...Jamie Bustos Office Number:...(985) 448-4281 Cell Phone:...(419) 786-0415 Sports Information Fax Number:...(985) 448-4814 Email Address:...jamie.bustos@nicholls.edu Alternate Email Address:... jl_bustos@hotmail.com Director of Media Relations:... Clyde Verdin Volunteer Assistant:...Gerard Waguespack Football Press Box Number/Score Updates:... (985) 448-4845/(985) 804-8652 Nicholls Athletics Website:... www.geauxcolonels.com Sports Information Mailing Address:...P.O. Box 2032, Thibodaux, La. 70310 Sports Information Mailing Address:.Barker Hall, Room 147, Thibodaux, La., 70310 Noteworthy Offensive Starters Marcus Washington (RB;6-0;210;Jr.) Jesse Turner (RB;5-10;190;Sr.) Nick Skelfo (TE;6-3;245;So.) Noteworthy Defensive Starters Edet Udoh (DT;6-1;315;Sr.) Jordan Piper (LB;5-9;230;Sr.) Siegan Vergenal (DB;6-0;195;Jr.) Noteworthy Specialist Starters Andrew Dolan (K/P;6-1;185;So.) Cory Kemps (P; 6-2;245;Jr.) Returning Statistical Leaders Rushing GP/GS Att. Yards Avg. TD 1. LaQuintin Caston 10/9 179 707 3.9 5 2. Marcus Washington 11/9 125 565 4.5 4 Passing GP/GS Comp. Att. Pct. Yards Int. TD 1. LaQuintin Caston 10/9 93 177 52.5 870 9 8 2. Landry Klann 4/2 36 57 63.2 377 6 2 Receiving GP/GS Rec. Yards Avg. Avg/G TD 1. Marcus Washington 11/9 23 170 7.4 15.5 2 2. Nick Skelfo 10/9 15 189 12.6 18.9 1 Tackles GP/GS Solo Assist Tot. Int. TFL/Yards 1. Jordan Piper 10/9 38 43 81 0 4.0/5 2. Siegan Vergenal 11/11 40 25 65 0 3.5/14 Preseason All-Southland Conference - Nick Skelfo, TE (First-team Offense) - Cory Kemps, P (First-team Defense) - Jesse Turner, RB (Second-team Offense) - Marcus Washington, RB (Second-team Offense) 2 2012 Nicholls Football
2012 Outlook Running Back Marcus Washington 2012 Nicholls Outlook It s been said that a brother is born for adversity. With the misfortunes that last season s team endured - such as injuries, inexperience and bad luck - the 2012 squad heads into the upcoming season with a fitting team motto Band of Brothers. Nicholls had a promising start in 2011, but following the opener, about everything that could go wrong, did go wrong; resulting in a 10-game losing streak. However, Nicholls returns 52 letterwinners who suffered through that adversity - eager and determined to take the program to the next level. Although the Colonels will be excited to put last season behind them, third-year head coach Charlie Stubbs squad will have its work cut out from them as Nicholls opens against three teams from the Football Bowl Subdivision. In addition to facing three FBS schools for the first time in program history, the Southland Conference schedule isn t much easier as it features the national runners-up, Sam Houston State, and playoff qualifier Central Arkansas. www.geauxcolonels.com 3
2012 Outlook Quarterback Landry Klann QUARTERBACKS -With Coach Stubbs shaking up the offense by switching three-year starting quarterback LaQuintin Caston to wide receiver, the Colonels will look to junior Landry Klann and sophomore Beaux Hebert to direct the offense. Klann, who is the projected starter, had two starts under center last year, including a near upset against Central Arkansas. On the year, Klann completed 63.2 percent of his passes, throwing for 377 yards and two touchdowns. Klann also displayed his rushing ability, scoring two times on the ground. -Hebert saw limited action before suffering a shoulder injury which kept him sidelined through the spring. In his five games last season, he connected on 24 of 44 attempts, accounting for 254 yards and a score. -Caston could still see action under center, lining up in the wildcat formation. In his three seasons at QB, he reeled off 1,513 yards rushing with 21 touchdowns. Last year, Caston ran for a career-best 707 yards, scoring five times. Running Back Marcus Washington RUNNING BACKS -Senior Jesse Turner and junior Marcus Washington will receive the bulk of the carries in the running game after Caston led the team in rushing over the past two seasons. Both have proved to be capable of handling the load as each earned second-team All-Southland in their season as the feature back. In 2011, with Turner in a limited role due to a knee injury in the spring, Washington stepped in to accumulate 565 yards, averaging 4.5 yards per carry with four touchdowns. He also displayed his receiving skills, catching 23 passes for 170 yards and two scores. Against Central Arkansas, Washington recorded his first career 100-yard game, rushing for 101 yards on 15 carries. -Turner will look to regain his form from 2010, where he led the SLC with a 5.7 yard-per-carry average. After completing a demanding rehab, he was able to play in eight games last season, racking up 184 all-purpose yards with one touchdown. -Providing depth for the backfield are junior Dalton Hilliard, sophomores Stephen Richmond and Joshua Johnson, and senior Ryan Anglin. All four received carries in 2011 as Nicholls rushed for 1,614 yards on the year. WIDE RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS -Nicholls will have to replace its top receiver from last season, Kenyad Blair, but possesses several options in the passing game as it returns nine receivers who earned letters in 2011. Sophomore Demon Bolt emerged late in the campaign to lead the Colonels with three touchdowns, while finishing the season with 12 receptions for 95 yards. Bolt also showed his versatility, carrying the ball 10 times for 41 yards. -Junior Brad Nelson is the top returner in yards, recording 117 on nine receptions. Senior Andrew Receiver LaQuintin Caston Wynn also passed the 100-yard mark, catching seven balls for 101 yards. Rounding out the two-deep for the Colonels are junior Jordan Arcement (93 yards, 8 rec.), sophomore Josh Hanberry (32 yards, 5 rec.) and LaQuintin Caston. -At tight end, sophomore Nick Scelfo earned second-team All-SLC after finishing second on the team with 189 yards on 15 receptions with one TD. Against UCA, Scelfo put together his best game with 55 yards on six receptions. -Also back at tight end are senior Marshall Crawford, junior Josh Dudley and sophomore Mark Mayberry. Receiver Demon Bolt 4 2012 Nicholls Football
2012 Outlook Offensive Lineman Gerald Gruenig OFFENSIVE LINE -The offensive line will be anchored by senior Gerald Gruenig and Rafe Plaisance. While the injury bug hit the O-line last season, four freshmen, including Plaisance, were forced to play and will head into the fall as the projected starters. -The tackle position will feature three second-year players, with Ryan Zeller and Tyler Knowles playing as true freshman last season, combining for six starts. Behind Zeller and Knowles on the pre-fall depth chart is redshirt freshman Garrison Trice. -At guard, two sophomores, Plaisance and Caleb Cline, are projected to start. Plaisance notched six starts in 2011, while Cline appeared in six games, starting in two. -Gruenig will return to the center position after suffering a seasonending leg injury last year. Gruenig, a two-year starter, played in all five games for the Colonels in 2011 before his injury. Backing up Gruenig is sophomore Caleb Cline. DEFENSIVE LINE -In the defensive front, the line will be senior-heavy as Fernandez Garner and Darrell Brown are on the outside, with Edet Udoh at nose tackle. Brown was fourth on the team in tackles (48) and led the Colonels with 2.5 sacks. Garner recorded 1.5 sacks, while Udoh also got to the quarterback once as he finished with 5.5 tackles for loss. -Backing up the seniors on the line is a trio of sophomores - Cole Frazier, Jordan Thompson and Andrew Carter. All played in at least three games as true freshmen last season, led by Frazier who had two starts in nine games played. LINEBACKERS -At linebacker, senior leading tackler Jordan Piper (81) heads three returning starters. Piper has been one of the most consistent players on the defensive side of the ball, racking up close to 200 tackles in his three seasons. Seniors Rashar Knight and Kerry Guidry hold down the edges of the 3-4, with junior transfer Chris Bermond looking to join Piper inside. Knight finished fifth in tackles (44) and blocked three kicks, while Guidry moved up from the secondary late last season, finishing the year with 33 tackles and an interception. Linebacker Kerry Guidry -On the depth chart, while all four backups are underclassmen, three earned significant player time last season. Sophomores Tyler Harrington and Ryan Bruno shore up the middle, with fellow classmate Davin Bovie and redshirt freshman Marcus Parker on the outside. -The Colonels also bolstered the position by bringing in transfer Dwayne Mitchell from the University of Minnesota. Mitchell played primarily as a backup and on special teams. Defensive Lineman Edet Udoh www.geauxcolonels.com 5
2012 Outlook SECONDARY -In the secondary, junior safeties Jordan Hanberry, T.J. Lumar and Siegan Vergenal return, but the Colonels will have to replace their starting cornerbacks. As a team, Nicholls had nine interceptions last season, but seven came from departing starters Bobby Felder and Chika Madu. -Along with finishing second on the team in tackles (65), Vergenal forced five fumbles last season, which was tied for fourth in the FCS. Hanberry played in all 11 games, tallying 43 tackles while Lumar had 27, a sack and an interception. Rounding out the safeties is sophomore Byron Cobb, who appeared in nine games. -At cornerback, junior Brian Lewis is expected to anchor one side, emerging as a starter at the end of last season. Lewis had 43 tackles and a sack on the year, and also broke up two passes. Battling for the final opening in the secondary are four others, including junior transfer Anthony McLean. Safety Siegan Vergenal Punter Cory Kemps SPECIALISTS -Senior first-team All-SLC punter Cory Kemps returns after finishing sixth in the nation with a 42.8 yard per punt average. Of his fifty attempts, Kemps pinned 16 inside the 20 and had 11 that went for 50 yards or longer. -Junior kicker Andrew Dolan will retain his role after a solid 2011 season where he led the Colonels with 42 points scored. Dolan made 6-of-9 field goal attempts and only misfired on one PAT. He also connected on a career-long 49-yarder against Lamar. On kickoffs, he averaged 57.6 yards per attempt and had two touchbacks. -Senior Ben Landry will provide backup for both kicking positions. Landry spelled Kemps last season after an injury and booted a 58-yard punt on his only attempt. Landry also displayed his athleticism, rushing for 25 yards on a fake punt. -The Colonels will have to replace all three primary returners from 2011, including Nicholls all-time leader in kick return yards, Chika Madu. Josh Hanberry is set to return kickoffs, with Demon Bolt slated as the punt returner. -Sophomore Ty Boudreaux returns as the long snapper, with junior Clint Clement listed at No. 2 on the depth chart. 6 2012 Nicholls Football
Pre-Fall Two Deep OFFENSE QB 6 Landry Klann 11 Beaux Hebert RB 44 Marcus Washington 4 Jesse Turner TE 85 Nick Skelfo 88 Marshall Crawford WR 83 Andrew Wynn 17 Brad Nelson WR 19 Jordan Arcement 12 Demon Bolt WR 82 Josh Hanberry 3 LaQuintin Caston RT 75 Ryan Zeller 67 Garrison Trice RG 77 Caleb Cline 55 Gerald Gruenig C 55 Gerald Gruenig 77 Caleb Cline LG 73 Rafe Plaisance 55 Gerald Gruenig LT 65 Tyler Knowles 67 Garrison Trice K 98 Andrew Dolan 99 Ben Landry P 35 Cory Kemps 99 Ben Landry H 16 Jordan Hanberry 99 Ben Landry DEFENSE DT 92 Fernandez Garner 91 Cole Frazier NT 95 Edet Udoh 94 Jordan Thompson DE 96 Darrell Brown 97 Andrew Carter DOG 25 Rashar Knight 57 Marcus Parker WLB 41 Chris Bermond 43 Ryan Bruno MLB 33 Jordan Piper 59 Tyler Harrington SLB 8 Kerry Guidry 28 Davin Bovie CB 39 Darvin Butler 29 Jonathan Gibson CB 13 Brian Lewis 22 Anthony McLean DB 16 Jordan Hanberry 27 Byron Cobb DB 7 Siegan Vergenal 36 T.J. Lumar LS 53 Ty Boudreaux 15 Clint Clement KR 82 Josh Hanberry 12 Demon Bolt PR 12 Demon Bolt 82 Josh Hanberry www.geauxcolonels.com 7