FRISCO, Texas - Four members of the championship Nicholls State University football team were named Southland All-Academic as the league office announced Tuesday afternoon its academic football team for the 2023 season.

Representing the Colonels were defensive lineman Zack Bernard, who was a repeat selection from 2021, running back Collin Guggenheim, tight end Lee Negrotto, and offensive lineman Robbie Pizzolato.

Bernard garnered his second academic honor after maintaining a 3.65 grade-point average as a health sciences pre-professional major. On the field, he helped anchor the league's top rushing defense, finishing with 21 tackles with 2.5 for loss which included 1.5 sacks. Bernard had a season-high five tackles in the playoff game at Southern Illinois and registered half-sacks in victories against Lamar and Southeastern.

Guggenheim posts a 3.45 GPA as a human performance education major and was an All-Southland First Team selection. He led the SLC with 75.7 yards rushing per game and 11 rushing touchdowns, helped by a season-high 153 yards and four TDs in the win at UIW. He totaled three 100-yard games and was a two-time Southland Offensive Player of the Week. 

Negrotto has a 3.45 GPA as a health sciences pre-professional major. For the season, he totaled 14 receptions for 143 yards with one touchdown, averaging 10.2 yards per catch. Negrotto had a season long 40-yard reception in the victory against Lamar. He was named All-Southland Second Team at tight end. 

Pizzolato posts a 3.52 GPA as an interdisciplinary studies major. In his first season on the field for the Colonels, he started at right guard and helped pave the way for the league's top rushing attack. The offense produced six 100-yard rushing games, including two in the same game in the win at No. 4 UIW.

The team was voted upon by the head coach, sports information director, and an academic/compliance staff member from each school. To be eligible for all-academic distinction, an athlete must hold a minimum 3.25 cumulative GPA through the semester prior to the sport's championship, completed at least one full academic year at the school prior to the current season, and participated in at least 50 percent of the team's competitions during the most recently completed season.
 
First team all-conference selections who meet the qualifications are automatically selected to the team.

2023 Southland All-Academic Team
Offense
QB – Zach Clement, Southeastern
RB – Collin Guggenheim, Nicholls
RB – D'Angelo Durham, McNeese
WR – Karl Reynolds, HCU
WR – Brandon Porter, UIW
WR – Sevonne Rhea, Lamar
TE – Lee Negrotto, Nicholls
OL – Jacob Dicharry, Lamar
OL – Christian Hood, HCU
OL – Robbie Pizzolato, Nicholls
OL – Nolan Hay, HCU
OL – Hayes Creel, McNeese
LS – Trey Vondenstein, McNeese
K – Emmanuel Adagbon, A&M-Commerce
P – *Austin Dunlap, Southeastern
 
Defense
DL – Zack Bernard, Nicholls
DL – Zae Smith, HCU
DL – Earnest Grayson, McNeese
DL – Donovan Green, Northwestern State
LB – Xavier McIntyre, HCU
LB – Ricky Rich, UIW
LB – Brayden Faulkner, Lamar
LB – Brayden Adams, McNeese
DB – Tre Richardson, UIW
DB – Justin Dumas, Southeastern
DB – Sean-Krystoff King, A&M-Commerce

*Southland Student-Athlete of the Year