BATON ROUGE, La. - Nicholls State University quarterback Pat McQuaide was named LSWA Newcomer of the Year and a total of five Colonels landed on the All-Louisiana teams as the Louisiana Sports Writers Association announced Sunday its 2023 collegiate football teams and honors.

Nicholls had three players named to the first-team squad -- offensive lineman Mark Barthelemy, running back Collin Guggenheim, and safety Tyler Morton, and two named second team -- offensive lineman Evan Roussel and running back Jaylon Spears. The Colonels also had two honorable mention selections -- tight end Lee Negrotto and cornerback Kendarius Smith. 

McQuaide joined the Colonels from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, earning the state's newcomer honor as he helped Nichols to an outright Southland title. The All-Southland selection threw for 2,196 yards and 13 touchdowns on the year with two 300-yard games. The highlight of his inaugural campaign came in the final game of the regular season when the Solon, Ohio native threw for 300 yards and two touchdowns with a rushing score in the River Bell Classic win over Southeastern.

McQuaide is the fourth Colonel in program history to receive LSWA Newcomer of the Year, joining John Emery (1996), Lardarius Webb (2007) and Kevin Moore III (2019). 

Barthelemy and Roussel anchored the offensive line for the Colonels, who averaged an SLC best 33.2 points per game in conference games. Nicholls had the top two rushers in the Southland as the offense averaged nearly 220 yards on the ground in league play.

Guggenheim was named All-Louisiana First Team after leading the SLC in overall rushing yards per game (75.7) and rushing TDs (11). Guggenheim posted three 100-yard games in conference, highlighted by a season-high 153 yards in win at UIW. In the victory in San Antonio, he rushed for four touchdowns for the second time this season, tying the program's single-game record. 

Spears received second-team state honors after ranking 12th in the FCS with 126.6 all-purpose yards per game. He rushed for 68.5 yards per game and ranked ninth in the nation at 6.8 yards per carry. Spears rushed for over 100 yards three times and had one 100-yard receiving game en route to being named Southland Player of the Year. 

Morton finished with 63 tackles and led the SLC in league play with 10 passes defended including conference best four interceptions. Two of his picks came in the home win over HCU and he also had a two-turnover game in the victory at McNeese. Morton was a two-time Southland Player of the Week and earned All-Southland First Team. 

For the honorable mentions, Negrotto totaled 13 receptions for 137 yards and a touchdown. Smith led the Southland with 14 pass breakups with nine coming in Southland play. 

The team was voted on by an LSWA panel of football media along with the sports communications/media relations staff members of the state colleges and universities. 

LSWA ALL-LOUISIANA COLLEGE FOOTBALL TEAMS/AWARDS

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Jayden Daniels, LSU
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Patrick Jenkins, Tulane
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Makhi Hughes, Tulane
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: Pat McQuaide, Nicholls
COACH OF THE YEAR: Willie Fritz, Tulane

First Team Offense
Pos/Name, School/Class/Hometown/Notes
OL/Mark Barthelemy, Nicholls/Sr./Opelousas, La./SLC Offensive Lineman of Year
OL/Will Campbell, LSU/So./Monroe, La./First Team All-SEC
OL/Sincere Haynesworth, Tulane/Sr./Pearland, Texas/First Team All-AAC, HM CFN A-A
OL/Emery Jones, LSU/So./Baton Rouge, La./Second Team All-SEC
OL/Cameron Wire, Tulane/Sr./Gonzales, La./First Team All-AAC
TE/Neal Johnson, Louisiana/Sr./Mesquite, Texas/29 rec., 5 TDs, 3rd Team All-SBC
WR/Malik Nabers, LSU/Jr./Lafayette, La./86 rec., 1,546 yds, 14 TDs, First Team A-A
WR/Brian Thomas, LSU/Jr./Walker, La./60 rec., 1,079 yds, 15 TDs, Second Team All-SEC
RB/Collin Guggenheim, Nicholls/Jr./Kenner, La./833 yds, 11 TDs, All-SLC First Team
RB/Makhi Hughes, Tulane/Fr./Birmingham, Ala./1,290 yds, 7 TDs, Frosh A-A, AAC Rookie of Year
QB/Jayden Daniels, LSU/Sr./San Bernadino, Calif./3,812 pass, 1,134 rushing yds, 50 TDs, Heisman winner
 
First Team Defense
Pos/Name, School/Class/Hometown/Notes
DL/Sundiata Anderson, Grambling/Sr./College Park, Ga./60 tackles, 11.5 TFL, First Team All-SWAC
DL/CKelby Givens, Southern/So./Shreveport, La./61 tackles, 7 sacks, First Team All-SWAC
DL/Darius Hodges, Tulane/Jr./Montgomery, Ala./25 tackles, 7.5 sacks, HM A-A, First Team All-AAC
DL/Patrick Jenkins, Tulane/Jr./New Orleans, La./32 tackles, 5.5 sacks, First Team A-A, AAC POY
LB/Micah Davey, McNeese/So./Baton Rouge, La./153 tackles, 2.0 sacks, First Team All-SLC
LB/Jesus Machado, Tulane/Jr./Miami, Fla./98 tackles, 1 Int., HM A-A, AAC LB of Year
LB/Harold Perkins, LSU/So./New Orleans, La./71 tackles, 5.5 sacks, Second Team All-SEC
DB/Ian Conerly-Goodly, Southeastern/So./Covington, La./109 tackles, 1 Int., First Team All-SLC
DB/Tyler Morton, Nicholls/Jr./St. Rose, La./63 tackles, 4 Int., First Team All-SLC
DB/Lance Robinson, Tulane/Sr./New Orleans, La./39 tackles, 4 Int., HM A-A, AAC CB of Year
DB/Willie Roberts, Louisiana Tech/Sr./Fort Worth, Texas/38 tackles, 12 PBU, 1 int.
 
First Team Special Teams
Pos/Name, School/Class/Hometown/Notes
K/Kenneth Almendares, Louisiana/Jr./Clute, Texas/13-14 FGs, 46 Long, 46-47 PAT, T6 NCAA FG Pct.
P/Blake Ochsendorf, Louisiana Tech/Sr./Savage, Minn./45.7 average, 15th NCAA, 17 punts 50 or more
RS/Smoke Harris, Louisiana Tech/Sr., St. Francisville, La./283 PR yards, 1 TD, C-USA Leader

Second Team Offense
Pos/Name, School/Class/Hometown/Notes
OL/John Allen, Southeastern/Sr./Jackson, Miss./First Team All-SLC
OL/AJ Gillie, Louisiana/Jr./Natchitoches, La./Third Team All-SBC
OL/Cole LeClair, McNeese/Jr./Middleburg, Fla./Second Team All-SLC
OL/Evan Roussel, Nicholls/Jr./Lutcher, La./First Team All-SLC
OL/Charles Turner, LSU/Sr./Canton, Ohio/Started all games at center
TE/Jacob Ganote, La. Christian/Sr./Montz, La./30 Rec (team leader), 4 TDs, First Team All-SAC
WR/Chris Brazzell II, Tulane/Fr./Midland, Texas/44 rec., 711 yds, 5 TDs, Third team All-AAC
WR/Smoke Harris, LA Tech/Sr./St. Francisville, La./83 rec., 796 yds, 4 TDs
RB/Devin Briscoe, La. Christian/989 yds, 9 TDs, First Team All-SAC
RB/Jaylon Spears, Nicholls/So./New Orleans, La./753 yds, 6 TDs, SLC POY
QB/Michael Pratt, Tulane/Jr./Boca Raton, Fla./2,406 yds passing, 27 total TDs, AAC Off. POY
 
Second Team Defensive
Pos/Name, School/Class/Hometown/Notes
DL/Logan Brimmer, La. Christian/Sr./Boutte, La./40 tackles, 9.0 sacks, SAC Defensive POY
DL/Devean Deal, Tulane/So./El Paso, Texas/40 tackles, 4.0 sacks, HM All-AAC
DL/Adin Huntington, ULM/Jr./Stafford, Va./63 tackles, 8.5 sacks, Second Team All-SBC
DL/Arlen Williams, Southeastern/Sr./Boothville, La./40 tackles, 6 sacks, First Team All-SLC
LB/Jeslord Boateng, LA Tech/Sr./Dublin, Ohio/93 tackles, 9 TFL, 1 sack
LB/Herman Christophe IV, Southeastern/Sr./Plaquemine, La./85 tackles, 4 TFL, First Team All-SLC
LB/Greg Penn, LSU/Jr./Baltimore, Md./83 tackles, 3 sacks, 2 int.
DB/Jordan Carter, Southern/Grad./Bryans Road, Maryland/63 tackles, 4 int, First Team All-SWAC
DB/Jarius Monroe, Tulane/Sr./LaPlace, La./48 tackles, 3 int, First Team All-AAC
DB/Kam Pedescleaux, Tulane/Sr./Houston, Texas/52 tackles, 2 int, AAC Safety of the Year
DB/Andre Sam, LSU/Sr./Iowa, La./74 tackles, 3 int
 
Second Team Special Teams
Pos/Name, School/Class/Hometown/Notes
K/Damian Ramos, LSU/So./Baltimore, Md./12-15 FGs, 72-72 PATs
P/Austin Dunlap, Southeastern/Sr./Slidell, La./43.9 avg., 13 punts 50 yds or more
RS/Darius Lewis, Southeastern/Jr./New Orleans, La./221 PR yardage, long 44, First Team All-SLC PR
 
Honorable Mention
Offense
OL – Rashad Green (Jr., Baton Rouge, La.), Tulane; Bert Hale (Jr., Epps, La.), LA Tech;
TE – Lee Negrotto (Jr., Pass Christian, Miss.), Nicholls
 
Defense
LB – Andre "Bubba" Reed (Sr., Basile, La.) La. Christian
DB – Pop McGhee (Jr., Opelousas, La.) La. Christian; Kendarius Smith (Jr., Meridian, Miss.) Nicholls
 
Special Team
RS – Zylan Perry (Fr., Franklin, La.) Louisiana