FRISCO, Texas – The Nicholls State University football team had 10 players named to the 2022 Preseason All-Southland Team, as the league office announced Wednesday its preseason honors.
 
The Colonel offense had five first-team selections – running back Collin Guggenheim, tight end Lee Negrotto, receiver K.J. Franklin, center Evan Roussel and placekicker Gavin Lasseigne. Second-team selections were quarterback Kohen Granier and offensive tackle Mark Barthelemy. 
 
The defense had three selections, led by first-team defensive lineman Perry Ganci. Linebacker Hayden Shaheen and defensive back Jordan Jackson were second-team honorees. 
 
Roussel and Barthelemy helped the Colonels to the No. 4 total offense in the FCS last season, which also ranked fifth in rushing... The offensive line ranked No. 1 in the nation in fewest tackles for loss allowed and eighth in sacks allowed.
 
Guggenheim averaged a school record 103.3 yards per contest in 2021. He finished the season with 930 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns, ending the year with five consecutive 100-yard games. In the finale at Southeastern, Guggenheim rushed for 266 yards and three TDs as Nicholls claimed the River Bell for the third time in the last four classics. 
 
Franklin was an all-league selection at slot receiver last season, ranking sixth in the league in receiving yards (636), yards per reception (13.8) and touchdown catches (6). He posted his first career 100-yard outings against HBU (101 yds, 4 rec.) and at Southeastern (116 yds, 5 rec.). 
 
Negrotto finished fourth on the team with 235 yards receiving on 20 receptions, averaging 11.8 yards a catch. His first career touchdown catch came in the home win vs. HBU and he recorded at least one reception in nine games.
 
Granier was the backup quarterback last season before starting the final two games. He ended the year with 616 yards passing and four touchdowns. In addition to his two starts, he took over at quarterback at McNeese to lead the Colonels to their first road win in Lake Charles since 2008.
 
Lasseigne ranked fourth in the league in scoring (79) and made a league-high 11 field goals on 13 attempts. He posted a 3-for-3 effort in the home finale against UIW, highlighted by a career long 45-yarder.
 
Garci earned All-Southland First Team after ranking fifth in the league with 9.5 tackles for loss while tying for fourth in sacks (6.0). He finished with 34 tackles and one of his best games came in the finale where he totaled two sacks against Southeastern.
 
Jackson racked up 25 tackles in the secondary last season and had one interception, returning it 44 yards for a touchdown in home contest against Southeastern. He also broke up two passes on the season and recorded a 12-yard sack at UIW.
 
Shaheen ranked second on the defense with 56 tackles and 6.5 for loss, which ranked 13th in the Southland. His best outing came where he had two tackles for loss, a sack and an interception in the win against Northwestern State. 
 
The preseason poll will be revealed next Wednesday, July 20, to kick off the 2022 Southland Conference Football Media Day Presented by B1 Patches. The live event will be held at the L'Auberge Casino Resort in Lake Charles, La., and can be seen on ESPN+.
 
Returning all-conference selections from the previous season are automatically named to the preseason all-conference teams and may advance to higher team slots if they are vacated by non-returning players. Open positions are nominated and voted upon by the league's head coaches.


First Team All-Conference Offense

Pos.	Name	School	Class	Hometown
QB	Lindsey Scott, Jr.	UIW	Sr.	Zachary, La.
RB	Collin Guggenheim*	Nicholls	So.	Kenner, La.
RB	Deonta McMahon*	McNeese	Sr.	Frostploof, Fla.
TE/HB	Lee Negrotto*	Nicholls	So.	Pass Christian, Miss.
WR	Taylor Grimes*	UIW	Sr.	Godly, Texas
WR	K.J. Franklin*	Nicholls	Jr.	Prairieville, La.
WR	Gage Larvadain*	Southeastern	So.	Donaldsonville, La.
OL	Caron Coleman*	McNeese	Sr.	St. Louis, Mo.
OL	Nash Jones*	UIW	Jr.	Nacogdoches, Texas
OL	John Allen*	Southeastern	Jr.	Jackson, Miss.
OL	Jalen Bell*	Southeastern	Sr.	Amory, Miss.
OL	Evan Roussel*	Nicholls	So.	Lutcher, La.
PK	Gavin Lasseigne*	Nicholls	Jr.	Raceland, La.
P	Brady Buell*	HBU	Sr.	Traverse City, Mich.

 
First Team All-Conference Defense

Pos.	Name	School	Class	Hometown
DL	Perry Ganci*	Nicholls	Jr.	New Orleans, La.
DL	Mason Kinsey*	McNeese	Sr.	Mansfield, Texas
DL	Cameron Preston*	UIW	Gr.	Crowley, Texas
DL	Garrett Crawford*	Southeastern	Jr.	Slidell, La.
DL	Accord Green*	McNeese	Sr.	New Orleans, La.
LB	Kelechi Anyalebechi*	UIW	Gr.	Pearland, Texas
LB	Kordell Williams*	McNeese	R-Sr.	Carencro, La.
DB	Zy Alexander*	Southeastern	So.	Loreauville, La.
DB	Kaleb Culp*	UIW	Jr.	Dallas, Texas
DB	Shemar Bartholomew*	Northwestern State	Sr.	New Orleans, La.
DB	Donniel Ward-McGee*	Southeastern	Sr.	New Orleans, La.
DB	PJ Herrington	Northwestern State	Sr.	Natchez, Miss.
KR	Gage Larvadain*	Southeastern	So.	Donaldsonville, La.
PR	Mason Pierce*	McNeese	R-So.	Pearland, Texas

 
Second Team All-Conference Offense

Pos.	Name	School	Class	Hometown
QB	Kohen Granier	Nicholls	Sr.	Destrehan, La.
RB	Taron Jones*	Southeastern	Sr.	Mandeville, La.
RB	Scooter Adams	Northwestern State	R-Jr.	Hallettsville, Texas
TE/HB	Roger McCuller	UIW	Gr.	Hallsville, Texas
WR	Darion Chafin	UIW	Gr.	Wichita Falls, Texas
WR	Mason Pierce	McNeese	R-So.	Pearland, Texas
WR	CJ Turner	Southeastern	R-Sr.	LaPlace, La.
OL	Mark Barthelemy	Nicholls	Sr.	Opelousas, La.
OL	Reid Francis	UIW	Sr.	College Station, Texas
OL	Caleb Johnson	UIW	Gr.	Mount Pleasant, Texas
OL	Calvin Barkat	McNeese	Sr.	Sachse, Texas
OL	Brennan Lanclos	Southeastern	R-Jr.	Mandeville, La.
PK	Carson Mohr	UIW	Sr.	The Woodlands, Texas
P	Keven Nguyen*	UIW	Gr.	Rohnert Park, Calif.

 
Second Team All-Conference Defense 

Pos.	Name	School	Class	Hometown
DL	Isaiah Longino	Northwestern State	Sr.	Humble, Texas
DL	Jomard Valsin	Northwestern State	Sr.	Port Arthur, Texas
DL	Bryce Cage	Southeastern	So.	Baton Rouge, La.
LB	Rodney Dansby*	HBU	So.	Houston, Texas
LB	Isaiah Paul*	UIW	R-Jr.	San Antonio, Texas
LB	Hayden Shaheen*	Nicholls	So.	Baton Rouge, La.
LB	Brennan Young	HBU	Sr.	Conroe, Texas
DB	Elliott Davison	UIW	Jr.	Flint, Texas
DB	Jordan Jackson	Nicholls	Jr.	Prairieville, La.
DB	Isaiah Cash	HBU	So.	Austin, Texas
DB	Brandon Richard	UIW	Sr.	San Antonio, Texas
DB	Coi Miller	HBU	Sr.	Fort Worth, Texas
KR	Ce'Cori Tolds	UIW	Gr.	Houston, Texas
PR	Gage Larvadain	Southeastern	So.	Donaldsonville, La.

 
* Automatic selection; returning all-conference player