FRISCO, Texas - The Nicholls State University football team had seven honorees, three on the first two teams as the Southland Conference office announced its 2010 All-Conference Teams on Tuesday. First team selections Patrick Dolan and Bobby Felder led the way for the Colonels and were joined by Second Team selection Jesse Turner. LaQuinton Caston, Tarbarris Hicks, Jordan Piper and Jordan Hanberry all took home Honorable Mention accolades.
Dolan, a senior, picked up Southland Conference first team honors for the third consecutive season. The Mobile, Ala. native proved to be the most reliable punter in the conference and one of the most reliable in the nation in 2010.
Dolan totaled 2,721 yards on 63 punts for a 43.2 yard per punt average, the best average in the conference and the sixth best average in the country. He had 17 punts of 50 yards or more, and 26 punts downed inside the 20 yard line. Dolan set a new Nicholls career record with a 43.1 yard per punt average, 0.2 away from the conference career record.
Felder was named to the Southland Conference first team for the first time in his career. The junior defensive back ranked fourth in the conference and led the Nicholls defense with four interceptions. The McComb, Miss. native tied for fifth in the conference with 11 passes defended (four interceptions, seven broken up) and recorded 33 tackles (21 solo 12 assists), including 2.0 tackles for loss on the year.
Sophomore running back Jesse Turner picked up Second Team accolades for the Colonels after being moved from defensive back during the preseason. The Houma native totaled 630 yards on 111 attempts in nine games. Despite missing nearly three full games due to injury, Turner averaged 5.7 yards per carry, the best average in the conference. Turner was also Nicholls' top receiver, making 18 catches for 308 yards, averaging a league-best 18.1 yard per catch average. His eight rushing touchdowns tied for fourth best in the conference.
LaQuinton Caston led the Colonels crop of four Honorable Mention honorees. Caston proved to be a dual-threat behind center for the Colonels. The Baton Rouge native ran for 577 yards on 171 attempts in 11 games for a 52.5 yard per game average, the sixth best mark in the league and the best for any Southland quarterback. The Scotlandville High School product ran for ten touchdowns, the second best total in the league and the best of any Southland quarterback.
After playing in a triple option offense last season, Caston threw for 1,141 yards this year, becoming the first Nicholls signal caller to throw for more than 1,000 yards since Nicholls athletics Hall of Famer Josh Son in 2001. Caston threw eight touchdown passes on the season, tying a career high. He was named Southland Conference and Louisiana Sports Writers Association Player of the Week twice during the season.
Caston was joined by three Colonel defenders on the Honorable Mention squad as linebacker Jordan Piper, defensive back Tarbarris Hicks and defensive back Jordan Hanberry all picked up Honorable Mention accolades.
Hicks led the Nicholls defense with 78 total tackles (47 solo, 31 assists) while recording one sack and 4.5 tackles for loss on the season. Hicks broke up seven passes on the season, forced one fumble, recovered one fumble, and had one quarterback hurry. Hicks averaged 7.1 tackles per game, the ninth best mark in the conference and the best mark on the team.
Piper, who missed three games at the start of the season while recovering from a broken leg, still totaled 52 tackles, the second best on the team and tenth best in the conference. The Ponchatoula, La. native averaged 6.5 tackles per game, had 2.5 tackles for loss and totaled three interceptions, the second best total on the team and tied for eighth best total in the Southland. Piper had five passes defended on the year (two broken up, three intercepted) and recovered two fumbles on the year, the sixth best total in the league. He was one of only two players in the conference to record at least three interceptions and at least two recovered fumbles on the season.
True freshman defensive back Jordan Hanberry rounds out the Colonels all-conference selections. The River Ridge, La. native recorded 50 tackles (33 solo, 17 assists) on the season, the third-best mark on the team. The John Curtis High School product had one interception and one fumble recovered totaling 22 yards returned on the turnovers. Hanberry also tallied 3.5 tackles for loss totaling 11 yards.
The last time the Colonels had multiple first team all-conference honorees was 2008 when Dolan was joined by former Colonel, and current Baltimore Raven, Lardarius Webb on the league's first team.
Nicholls Football All-Southland Honorees
First Team:
Patrick Dolan – Punter
Totaled 2721 yards on 63 punts for a 43.2 yard per punt average, the best average in the conference and the sixth best average in the country 2… Had 17 punts of 50 yards or more … Had 26 punts downed inside the 20 yard line … Set a new Nicholls career record with a 43.1 yard per punt average, 0.2 away from the conference career record.
Head Coach Charlie Stubbs says:
"I can't say enough about him (Patrick)," Stubbs said. "I only had the pleasure of working with him just one year. He's exceptional at his talent of punting, but he's also just as equally exceptional at being a team member and a leader on the team. He's somebody I can put out there in the way of understanding being a true student athlete. He's already in grad school. I'm so pleased for him and he's very well-deserving. He really does work at his skill. I would see him out my office windows numerous times during the summer trying to perfect things. He put the work in and he's very deserving."
Bobby Felder – Defensive Back
Tied for fifth in the conference with 11 passes defended (four interceptions, seven broken up) … Ranked fourth in the conference and led the Nicholls defense with four interceptions … Recorded 33 tackles (21 solo 12 assists) … Recorded 2.0 tackles for loss on the year.
Head Coach Charlie Stubbs says:
"I thought Bobby had a very good year," Stubbs said. "He missed some games because of injuries. But I think, overall, if we can get him out there all the time, he can really be an impact player for our team. He was, most of the time, given the assignment of defending some of the top receivers in the conference. So, he always had a good challenge, and he made plays. He also did some good work as a punt returner for us. He's only a junior, so I expect to come back and be exceptional. He'll be back, and I expect him to shoulder more of a leadership role on that side of the ball."
Second Team:
Jesse Turner – Running Back
Was moved from defensive back to running back in the preseason …. Ran for a team-high 630 yards on 111 attempts in nine games for a 5.7 yard per carry average, the best yard per carry average in the Southland Conference this season … Caught 18 passes for a team-best 308 yards, averaging a team-best 17.1 yard per catch … Had nine touchdowns (eight rushing, one receiving) in nine games tying for fourth in the conference with a 6.0 point per game average … Averaged 99.1 all purpose yards per game, the sixth best mark in the conference, Racked up 892 all purpose yards on the season … Took a screen pass 95 yards for a touchdown at South Alabama for the second longest pass play in school history on Sept. 11 … Missed the final two games due to injuries … Ran for eight touchdowns, tied for fourth-best in the conference.
Head Coach Charlie Stubbs says:
"This was Jesse's first year as a full-time running back," Stubbs said. "He has had an exceptional year, leading us in many categories from, not just rushing the football, but receiving. Again, unfortunately, for Jesse, he was injured for the final three or four games of the year. So, that really hindered his progress and hurt our offense. But, I know he's very well deserving of his selection. He's got a lot of big play potential every time he touches the ball, and I'm really pleased that he's just a sophomore. So, we'll have him at least two more years in the program. He's a very coachable young man and a pleasure to work with."
Honorable Mention:
LaQuinton Caston – Quarterback
Ran for 577 yards on 171 attempts in 11 games for a 52.5 yard per game average, the sixth best mark of any player in the conference and the best average of any quarterback in the league … Had ten rushing touchdowns on the season, the second best total in the league and the best total for any Southland quarterback … Averaged 152 total yards of offense per game, the seventh best mark in the league … Set career highs in passing yards with 1141 and rushing yards with 577 … Became the first Nicholls signal caller since 2001 to throw for more than 1,000 yards … Completed 98 of 188 passes for a 52.1 completion percentage … Threw eight touchdown passes to tie a career high … Had one game with 300 yards passing, had four games with 100 yards rushing, had two games with both 100 yards passing and 100 yards rushing … A two-time Southland Conference and Louisiana Sports Writers Association Offensive Player of the week during the season.
Head Coach Charlie Stubbs says:
"LaQuinton was the starting quarterback last year running the option. So he's still learning the quarterback position in this offense (Multiple Set-Pro), but he did some exceptional things for us," Stubbs said. "The bottom line about him is that he's a playmaker back there. He really, as we were developing this offense and solidifying this offensive line, he really did a great job of extending plays and sometimes making plays when they weren't really there. In our three conference wins, he played exceptional. When he played well, we played well as a team. I'm pleased with him and his progress so far, and he's just a sophomore, so I'm excited to have him back."
Tarbarris Hicks – Defensive Back
Led the Nicholls defense with 78 total tackles (47 solo, 31 assists) … Recorded one sack and 4.5 tackles for loss on the season … Broke up seven passes on the season … Forced one fumble, recovered one fumble, had one quarterback hurry on the season … Averaged 7.1 tackles per game, the ninth best mark in the conference and the best mark on the team.
Head Coach Charlie Stubbs says:
"Tarbarris is a senior for us, and he's a young man that led our defense in tackles and did well in a lot of other statistics for us,” Stubbs said. "He was a safety for us, and he really did a good job. He was a captain most of the season because of his work ethic and because he showed how important it was to fight and be successful. He's working hard to finish his degree right now, and I challenged him about that. But, he's done a great job and I was glad he was able to receive some recognition."
Jordan Hanberry – Defensive Back
Recorded 50 tackles (33 solo, 17 assists) on the season, the third-best mark on the team … Had one interception and one fumble recovered totaling 22 yards returned on the turnovers … Had 3.5 tackles for loss totaling 11 yards.
Head Coach Charlie Stubbs says:
"Jordan represents a whole lot of freshmen that we played this year," Stubbs said. "He recorded 50 tackles, had an interception and a fumble recovery. He did a super job for us this year. He started six games at the safety position as a true freshman. Jordan has a great future here. He's an excellent student in the classroom. I can't say enough about him. He really showed up. He's a real contact player, too, and a very smart player. I had probably, at different times during the year, had as many as six to eight true freshmen starting for us on offense, defense and in the kicking game. I'm glad the other coaches in the conference were able to recognize at least one of our young players and the potential he has in the future."
Jordan Piper – Linebacker
Totaled 52 tackles, the second best on the team and tenth best in the conference, despite playing just eight games … Averaged 6.5 tackles per game … Had 2.5 tackles for loss and totaled three interceptions, the second best total on the team and tied for eighth best total in the Southland … Had five passes defended on the year (two broken up, three intercepted) … Recovered two fumbles on the year, the sixth best total in the league … One of only two players in the conference to record at least three interceptions and at least two recovered fumbles on the season.
Head Coach Charlie Stubbs says:
"Jordan is another sophomore for us. So, again, he will be back and has a great future," Stubbs said. "He's an impact player for us, a real contact player. Unfortunately, for him, he broke his leg in fall camp and missed three games and played sparingly in a fourth. He did a great job, was second on the team in tackles, and he was a real impact player. He was the heart and soul of the defense, in a leadership role. He's well thought of by all our team members and served as captain just about every game he was available because of his leadership ability."
