February 7, 2007

THIBODAUX, La. - Head coach Jay Thomas was pleased to announce the signing of 16 outstanding players on National Signing Day to letters of intent to play collegiate football for Nicholls State University. The group includes four mid-year signees, who have been on campus since the start of the spring semester.

"The future of Nicholls football is looking bright with this great group of young men we have coming in," said Thomas. "They are going to represent the program and university well."

The four mid-year players are all on the defensive side of the ball, and include defensive lineman Solomon Ona from Mississippi State, defensive lineman Daun Thompson from Trinity Valley Community College, and defensive backs Ladarius Webb and Lance Moore by way of Southern Mississippi.

The Colonels added seven talents from Texas, six from Louisiana, two from Mississippi, and one from Alabama.

The 2007 signing class is as follows:

PLAYER POS HT WT HOMETOWN PREVIOUS SCHOOL

Carter, A.J. DT 6-3 285 Thibodaux, LA Thibodaux H.S.

Eddie, Andrew DB 6-0 205 Okolona, MS Itawamba CC

Eggerton, Michael OL 6-4 305 Arlington, TX Burleson H.S.

Haynes, Harvey DE 6-3 230 Metairie, LA East Jefferson H.S.

Langthorn, Spenser OL 6-3 284 Kingwood, TX Kingwood H.S.

McAffe, Tyler QB 6-3 200 Victoria, TX Calhoun H.S.

McDade, Charles OL 6-0 298 Friendswood, TX Clear Brook H.S.

McGrew, Thomas DT 6-2 280 Baton Rouge, LA Dutchtown H.S

*Moore, Lance DB 6-1 190 Leakesville, MS Southern Miss

*Ona, Solomon DL 6-1 300 Baker, LA Mississippi State

Persick, Kevin LB 6-2 215 Zachary, LA Zachary H.S.

Reed, Damien LB 6-0 235 Houston, TX Blinn Com. College

Stewart, Anri LB 6-1 185 Plaquemine, LA Plaquemine H.S.

*Thompson, Daun DL 6-1 290 Hallsville, TX Trinity Valley C.C.

Ward, Brandon OL 6-3 288 Conroe, TX Oak Ridge, H.S.

*Webb, Ladarius DB 5-11 180 Opelika, AL Southern Miss

* - denotes Mid-year signee.

2007 class signing additional information:

A.J. Carter, Defensive Tackle, Thibodaux, Louisiana

Made 66 tackles, recorded three sacks, forced two fumbles and had four tackles for a loss in his only season playing football in 2006... Was named to the all-bayou region, all-parish and all-district teams his senior campaign... Played basketball for Thibodaux for three seasons before making the transition to the gridiron.

Andrew Eddie, Defensive Back, Okolona, Mississippi

Highly thought of around the nation amongst junior college defensive backs... Had 80 tackles, three interceptions and four forced fumbles to his credit as a sophomore at Itawamba Community College... Was named junior college player of the week once during last season... Helped guide Itawamba to the Mississippi Junior College playoffs... Played high school football with current Colonel Kareem Moore.

Michael Eggerton, Offensive Line, Arlington, Texas

Was a four year letter winner at Burleson High School... Played some defensive line as well... A two sport athlete that played center for the basketball team for three seasons... Anchored the offensive line during Burelson's 2006 4-5 District Champion run... An all-state academic selection in 2006.

Harvey Haynes, Defensive End, Metairie, Louisiana

Was a four year starter at East Jefferson High School... Named team MVP twice and was selected to the all-district team twice while playing for the Warriors... Was all-parish his senior season... Recorded 69 total tackles, had four sacks, and recovered two fumbles in 2006.

Spenser Langthorn, Offensive Lineman, Kingwood, Texas

A two year starter at Kingwood High School... Was second team all-district his junior and senior seasons... Earned three letters from participation with football... Named team captain his senior campaign... Recognized for his outstanding play by Texas Prep Xtra and was voted player of the week on one occasion.

Tyler McAffe, Quarterback, Victoria, Texas

Rushed for 2,334 yards and 42 touchdowns during his senior season in 2006... Named district 30-4A MVP... Led the Sandcrabs to a 9-3 record as a senior, which was the school's first winning season since 1991... Managed to score eight touchdowns and rush for 324 yards in a district contest this past season.

Charles McDade, Offensive Line, San Diego, California

Named team captain his senior season for Clear Brook... Helped lead his team to a district championship in 2004... A three year letter winner in football for the Wolverines...Was communications president his senior season.

Thomas McGrew, Defensive Tackle, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Lettered three years in football and one year in track... Was a major part of Dutchtown's district runner-up team that finished 9-2 and made it to the state playoffs... Played in the U.S. Army Red-Stick bowl in Baton Rouge, La... Selected all-district and all-state in his junior and senior seasons... Served on the Student Council and was voted class vice president.

Lance Moore, Defensive Back, Leakesville, Mississippi

Saw lots of action on special teams at Southern Miss... Contributed on defense in the secondary last season... Played at Greene County High School before attending Southern Miss... Helped lead his team to a state championship in his senior campaign... Holds the Mississippi state high school record for most interceptions (15) in a season with Steve McNair... Snagged 10 interceptions his junior season at Greene County... Was all-state twice in high school.

Solomon Ona, Defensive Tackle, Baker, Louisiana

Spent the previous two seasons at Mississippi State... Played both ways in high school at Baker... Started three consecutive seasons for the Buffaloes... Did not play on the defensive side of the ball until his senior campaign... Named first team all-state and all-district at offensive guard and honorable mention defensive tackle his senior season... Was a second team all-state offensive guard selection his junior season... Named to the all-state academic team as a senior in 2004.

Kevin Persick, Linebacker, Zachary, Louisiana

An all-district selection from 2004-06 and all-state in 2006... Voted MVP of district 6-4A for leading the Broncos to district runner-up honors in 2006 and to the state playoffs... Was a key contributor for the 2005 district championship squad that made it to the quarterfinals in the state playoffs.

Damien Reed, Linebacker, Houston, Texas

Comes to Nicholls after spending two seasons at Blinn Community College where he led the 2006 squad to an undefeated (12-0) national championship... Was voted MVP of defense after he recorded 105 tackles in 2006... Notched 85 tackles in 2005.

Anri Stewart, Linebacker, Plaquemine, Louisiana

Recorded 126 tackles, 11 sacks and forced 16 fumbles his senior season for Plaquemine High School... Was a three year letter winner that was named to the all-parish squad three years consecutively... An all-district selection his junior and senior campaigns... Valedictorian of his class and a National Honor Roll Student.

Daun Thompson, Defensive Tackle, Hallsville, Texas

Played the last two seasons at Trinity Valley Community College... As a sophomore, led the defensive line with 50 tackles, three forced fumbles, seven sacks and 11 tackles for losses... Named an honorable mention of SWJCFC in 2006... Was a first team all-district and second team all-state performer in high school at Hallsville... A Texas Globe Scholar at Hallsville.

Brandon Ward, Offensive Line, Spring, Texas

Started two seasons on the offensive line for Oak Ridge High School... Helped lead the War Eagles back to the playoffs in his senior season... A first team all-district selection and first team all-county in 2006... Served as team captain his senior season... Won the Mike Watson Memorial Award for his outstanding play on the offensive line his senior campaign.

Ladarius Webb, Defensive Back, Opelika, Alabama

Was known at Southern Miss for his hard hitting style of play... Finished sixth on the team in tackles his sophomore season with 55... Led the team in pass breakups with five... Played in all 12 games as a freshman for the Golden Eagles... Prepped at Beauregard High School before attending Southern Miss... Played both ways in high school, and was a two-time all-state selection.

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