THIBODAUX, La. – With the 2014 college baseball season just a few days away, various publications have been putting out their conference previews in advance of the start of the year on Friday, with Nicholls getting some attention in the form of freshman infielder/right-handed pitcher Cole Stapler as he has been named the league's top freshman according to Perfect Game and Baseball America.

Stapler, a 6-5, 230-pound product out of Dutchtown High School, was drafted in the 35th round of the Major League Baseball draft by the Miami Marlins organization after completing his senior season where he was named the District 5-5A MVP, first team all-district, all-metro and honorable mention all-state.

Stapler was included in Baseball America's top 500 prospects last season. "He has power in his right-handed swing, but he can reach 92 off the mound and projects for more," Aaron Fitt of BA said.

Kendall Rogers of Perfect Game USA not only had Stapler as the Southland's top freshman, but also one of the top three league prospects for 2016. Teammate and fellow newcomer Marc Frazier, a transfer infielder/right-handed pitcher from Chipola College, was rated as the 11th best MLB prospect in this season's group of 15.

PG has the Colonels projected to finish ninth in the conference, but said that the Colonels are ready to take a few steps forward in 2014 with an offense led by Tyler Duplantis and solid pitching group returning.

"There certainly are some holes to fill on the offensive side of things with just one returning hitter who hit over .300 last season. That title belongs to Tyler Duplantis, who hit .330 with 13 RBIs last season," he said. "Meanwhile, on the mound, keep an eye on Taylor Byrd, who returns to the rotation after tallying a 3.18 ERA in 73 2/3 innings last year, while Brandon Jackson (3.21) and Marc Picciola (3.63) also are back and ready to log more innings."

Nicholls opens the 2014 regular season on Friday, opening a three-game series against the Houston Cougars.