FRISCO, Texas – Defending conference champion Nicholls State University led all teams with 11 selections on the 2019 All-Southland Preseason Team, the league office announced Thursday.
Eight Colonels landed on first team, with three being named second. Nine of the honorees were automatic after garnering All-Southland last season. The first-team recipients were reigning Southland Player of the Year quarterback
Chase Fourcade, offensive lineman
P.J. Burkhalter, wide receiver
Dai'Jean Dixon, cornerback
Darren Evans, punter
Winston Jones, defensive lineman
Sully Laiche, and linebackers
Allen Pittman and
Evan Veron.
Second-team members were offensive lineman
Jair Joseph, defensive back
Khristian Mims, and running back
Dontrell Taylor.
Fourcade headlined the preseason squads after his record-setting junior campaign. He threw for nearly 3,000 yards and 21 touchdowns, while adding 659 yards rushing and 13 TDs. Fourcade became the Colonels' all-time leading passer last season and orchestrated the offense to team records in points scored (420) and total yards (6,162). He finished in the top 15 of the FCS in points responsible for (204/8th), rushing touchdowns (10th), and passing efficiency (145.9/14th).
Also on offense, Taylor was one of the top running backs in the nation last season, rushing for 990 yards and nine touchdowns. His 7.2 yard per carry average ranked seventh in the FCS and set the program's single-season record. Dixon led Nicholls with 53 receptions and seven touchdowns, totaling 753 yards receiving. Two of his scores came in the win over Stephen F. Austin where he was two yards shy of his third 100-yard game of the season.
Rounding out the offensive honorees are linemen Burkhalter and Joseph. Burkhalter is the lone returning starter on the offensive line, playing mostly at guard. Joseph was a primary backup and the duo helped the Colonels to the No. 12 rushing offense in the FCS.
All-American lineman Laiche anchors the defensive unit. A three-time All-Southland selection, Laiche had 8.5 sacks and 17 tackles for loss in his junior season. With the help of Veron, who had seven sacks and ranked third in the nation with 22 tackles for loss, the Colonels ended 2018 ranked in the top 5 in the country in TFLs and sacks.
Another three-time All-SLC honoree, Pittman racked up 45 tackles last year with 4.5 for loss and two sacks. In the secondary, Evans and Mims shined in their first seasons as starters in '18. Evans proved to be one of the best cover corners in the Southland, finishing with eight breakups and two interceptions. Mims also had two picks and led Nicholls with 76 tackles at safety.
For special teams, Jones averaged 41.4 yards and had 17 punts inside the 20 in his first year with the Colonels. He had seven punts longer than 50 yards, including a 75-yarder in the win over Lamar.
PRESEASON POLL/MEDIA DAY
The 2019 preseason poll will be revealed next Thursday, July 18, to kick off Southland Football Media Day at the Hilton Houston Post Oak in Houston. Attending the event for Nicholls will be head coach
Tim Rebowe, and seniors
Chase Fourcade and
Allen Pittman.
SEASON TICKETS
Season tickets for Nicholls football are available by visiting geauxcolonels.com or calling the Nicholls Ticket Office at 985-448-4790. The home opener is scheduled for Oct. 5 against Central Arkansas.
First Team All-Conference Offense
| Pos. |
Name |
School |
Class |
Hometown |
| QB |
Chase Fourcade* |
Nicholls |
Sr. |
Metairie, La. |
| RB |
Carlos Blackman* |
Central Arkansas |
Sr. |
Gosnell, Ark. |
| RB |
Billy McCrary* |
Abilene Christian |
Sr. |
Austin, Texas |
| TE/HB |
Bransen Schwebel* |
Southeastern Louisiana |
Sr. |
Amite, La. |
| WR |
Nathan Stewart* |
Sam Houston State |
Sr. |
Dallas, Texas |
| WR |
Dai'Jean Dixon* |
Nicholls |
Jr. |
New Orleans, La. |
| WR |
Juwan Petit-Frere* |
Southeastern Louisiana |
Sr. |
Orlando, Fla. |
| OL |
Hunter Watts* |
Central Arkansas |
Sr. |
San Antonio, Texas |
| OL |
Brandon Floores* |
UIW |
Sr. |
La Vernia, Texas |
| OL |
Terence Hickman II* |
UIW |
Sr. |
Converse, Texas |
| OL |
Grant Burguillos* |
McNeese |
Sr. |
Mandeville, La. |
| OL |
P.J. Burkhalter |
Nicholls |
R-Jr. |
Franklinton, La. |
| PK |
Storm Ruiz |
Stephen F. Austin |
Sr. |
League City, Texas |
| P |
Winston Jones* |
Nicholls |
Sr. |
Thibodaux, La. |
First Team All-Conference Defense
| Pos. |
Name |
School |
Class |
Hometown |
| DL |
Sully Laiche* |
Nicholls |
Sr. |
Grammercy, La. |
| DL |
Chris Terrell* |
Central Arkansas |
Sr. |
Pensacola, Fla. |
| DL |
Chris Livings* |
McNeese |
Sr. |
Lake Charles, La. |
| DL |
Daniel Crosley* |
Lamar |
Sr. |
DeRidder, La. |
| LB |
Jeremiah Chambers* |
Abilene Christian |
Sr. |
Austin, Texas |
| LB |
Evan Veron* |
Nicholls |
Sr. |
LaPlace, La. |
| LB |
Allen Pittman* |
Nicholls |
Sr. |
St. Rose, La. |
| DB |
Hayden Bourgeois* |
Northwestern State |
Jr. |
Church Point, La. |
| DB |
Zyon McCollum* |
Sam Houston State |
Jr. |
Galveston, Texas |
| DB |
Colby Burton* |
McNeese |
Sr. |
League City, Texas |
| DB |
Juan Jackson* |
Central Arkansas |
Sr. |
Gardendale, Ala. |
| DB |
Darren Evans* |
Nicholls |
Jr. |
Baton Rouge, La. |
| KR |
Juwan Petit-Frere* |
Southeastern Louisiana |
Sr. |
Orlando, Fla. |
| PR |
Devonte Williams* |
Southeastern Louisiana |
Sr. |
Columbia, Md. |
Second Team All-Conference Offense
| Pos. |
Name |
School |
Class |
Hometown |
| QB |
Jon Copeland* |
UIW |
So. |
Argyle, Texas |
| RB |
Dontrell Taylor* |
Nicholls |
Sr. |
White Castle, La. |
| RB |
Myles Wanza |
Lamar |
Jr. |
Houston, Texas |
| TE/HB |
Woody Brandom |
Sam Houston State |
R-Sr. |
Corona, Calif. |
| WR |
Tamrick Pace |
Stephen F. Austin |
Sr. |
Brownsboro, Texas |
| WR |
Jerreth Sterns |
Houston Baptist |
So. |
Midlothian, Texas |
| WR |
Josh Fink |
Abilene Christian |
Sr. |
Coppell, Texas |
| OL |
Jair Joseph |
Nicholls |
Jr. |
Napoleonville, La. |
| OL |
Chris Zirkle |
Northwestern State |
Sr. |
League City, Texas |
| OL |
Toby Sanderson |
Central Arkansas |
Jr. |
Edmond, Okla. |
| OL |
Kade Parmelly |
Abilene Christian |
Jr. |
Abilene, Texas |
| OL |
Uzoma Okere |
UIW |
Jr. |
Grand Prairie, Texas |
| PK |
Elvin Martinez |
Lamar |
Jr. |
Huntsville, Texas |
| P |
David Balcomb |
UIW |
Sr. |
Gordon, Australia |
Second Team All-Conference Defense
| Pos. |
Name |
School |
Class |
Hometown |
| DL |
Erick Fowler* |
Sam Houston State |
Sr. |
Austin, Texas |
| DL |
Isaac Adeyemi-Berglund |
Southeastern Louisiana |
Sr. |
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia |
| DL |
O'Shea Jackson |
Northwestern State |
Sr. |
Arlington, Texas |
| DL |
Andre Walker |
Houston Baptist |
Sr. |
Slidell, La. |
| LB |
Caleb Johnson |
Houston Baptist |
Jr. |
San Diego, Calif. |
| LB |
Hunter Brown |
Sam Houston State |
R-Sr. |
Weston, Fla. |
| LB |
Royce See |
Sam Houston State |
Sr. |
Shepherd, Texas |
| DB |
Khristian Mims* |
Nicholls |
Sr. |
Baton Rouge, La. |
| DB |
Bolu Onifade* |
Abilene Christian |
Sr. |
Oklahoma City, Okla. |
| DB |
Alize Ward* |
Stephen F. Austin |
Sr. |
San Diego, Calif. |
| DB |
Jackie Harvell |
Central Arkansas |
Jr. |
Gurdon, Ark. |
| DB |
Robert Rochell |
Central Arkansas |
Jr. |
Shreveport, La. |
| KR |
Myles Ward |
Northwestern State |
So. |
Harvey, La. |
| PR |
Austin Mitchell |
Southeastern Louisiana |
Jr. |
Plaquemine, La. |
*
Automatic selection; returning all-conference player
