The 2023 Nicholls Colonels football team represented Nicholls State University as a member of the Southland Conference during the 2023 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Colonels were led by ninth-year head coach Tim Rebowe and played their home games at Manning Field at John L. Guidry Stadium in Thibodaux, Louisiana.
Preseason Preseason poll The Southland Conference released their preseason poll on July 24, 2023. The Colonels were picked to finish fourth in the conference.
Preseason All–Southland Teams The Southland Conference announced the 2023 preseason all-conference football team selections on July 21, 2023. Nicholls had a total of 10 players selected.
Offense
1st Team Collin Guggenheim – running back, JR Evan Roussel – offensive lineman, SR Mark Barthelemy – offensive lineman, SR
2nd Team Kylan Dupre – punter, SO
Defense
1st Team Perry Ganci – defensive lineman, SR Eli Ennis – linebacker, SO Jordan Jackson – defensive back, SR Tyler Morton – defensive back, JR Jaylon Spears – kick returner, RS-SO
2nd Team Kylin White – linebacker, RS-SO
Personnel
Schedule
Game summaries
vs. No. 10 Sacramento State
Statistics SACNICH First downs 22 18 Total yards 441 293 Rushing yards 185 97 Passing yards 256 196 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 16–27–1 15–29–1 Time of possession 33:11 26:49 Team Category Player StatisticsSacramento State Passing Kaiden Bennett 11/16, 221 yards, 2 TD Rushing Marcus Fulcher 19 carries, 71 yards, 2 TD Receiving Devin Gandy 3 receptions, 82 yardsNicholls Passing Pat McQuaide 15/29, 196 yards, TD, INT Rushing Collin Guggenheim 16 carries, 74 yards Receiving Terry Matthews 1 reception, 84 yards
at TCU
at Tulane
Statistics NICHTUL First downs 21 19 Total yards 335 408 Rushing yards 62 150 Passing yards 273 258 Turnovers 4 3 Time of possession 32:26 27:34 Team Category Player StatisticsNicholls Passing Pat McQuaide 27/39, 273 yards, TD, 4 INTs Rushing Collin Guggenheim 14 carries, 56 yards Receiving Neno Lemay 8 receptions, 75 yards, TDTulane Passing Michael Pratt 18/23, 190 yards, 2 TDs, INT Rushing Arnold Barnes III 4 carries, 71 yards Receiving Lawrence Keys III 4 receptions, 77 yards, 2 TDs
at McNeese
Statistics NICHMCN First downs 24 10 Total yards 66-293 56-295 Rushing yards 41-171 24-131 Passing yards 122 252 Turnovers 1 5 Time of possession 36:10 23:50 Team Category Player StatisticsNicholls Passing Pat McQuaide 14/24-0; 120 yds; TD 1; long 25 yds; sacks 1 Rushing Collin Guggenheim 22 attempts; gain 103 yds; long 14 yds. Receiving Neno Lemay 5 receptions; total 40 yds; long 18; TD 1McNeese Passing Nate Glantz 14/30-2; 199 yds; TD 1; long 39 yds; sacks 2 Rushing D'Angelo Durham 9 attempts; gain 45 yds; long 12 yds. Receiving Jon McCall 4 receptions; total 87 yds; long 39 yds; TD 1
vs. Houston Christian
Statistics HCUNICH First downs 14 19 Total yards 69-220 69-441 Rushing yards 27-46 44-237 Passing yards 174 204 Turnovers 4 1 Time of possession 26:55 33:05 Team Category Player StatisticsHouston Christian Passing Colby Suits 17/38-1; total 170 yds; long 26 yds; TD 1; INT 3; sack 1 Rushing Colby Suits 7 attempts; gain 24 yds; loss 6 yds; long 9 yds Receiving Ismael Fuller 2 receptions; 35 yds; long 22 ydsNicholls Passing Pat McQuaide 15/25-1; total 204 yds; long 63 yds; TD 1; INT 1; sack 2 Rushing Jaylon Spears 8 attempts; gain 114 yds; loss 1 yds; long 58 yds Receiving David Robinson 7 receptions; total 127 yds; long 63 yds; TD 1
vs. Northwestern State - Game forfeited by Northwestern State
at Texas A&M–Commerce
Statistics NICHTAMC First downs 22 15 Total yards 57-381 66-309 Rushing yards 31-141 28-78 Passing yards 240 231 Turnovers 1 3 Time of possession 29:40 30:20 Team Category Player StatisticsNicholls Passing Pat McQuaide 16/26-1; total 240 yds; long 59 yds; TD 1; sack 1 Rushing Collin Guggenheim 16 attempts; gain 78 yds; loss 2 yds; long 15 yds; TD 2 Receiving Terry Matthews 2 receptions; 62 yds; long 59 ydsTexas A&M–Commerce Passing Josh Magana 17/20-0; total 130 yds; long 33 yds; TD 1; sack 1 Rushing Mitchell McGarry 1 attempt; gain 21 yds; long 21 yds Receiving Keith Miller III 2 receptions; 53 yds; long 33 yds; TD 1
vs. Southeast Missouri State
Statistics SEMONICH First downs 19 23 Total yards 66-349 81-406 Rushing yards 43-210 27-61 Passing yards 139 345 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 30:34 29:26 Team Category Player StatisticsSoutheast Missouri State Passing Patrick Heitert 12/23-0; total 139 yds; long 26 yds; TD 1; sacks 5 Rushing Geno Hess 18 attempts; gain 136 yds; loss 8 yds; long 64 yds; TD 1 Receiving Ryan Flournoy 4 receptions; total 62 yds; long 29 yds; TD 1Nicholls Passing Pat McQuaide 26/53-1; total 345 yds; long 88 yds; TD 1; INT 1; sacks 1 Rushing Collin Guggenheim 16 attempts; gain 70 yds; loss 2 yds; long 12 yds; TD 1 Receiving Jaylon Spears 5 attempts; gain 116; long 88 yds; TD 1
at Incarnate Word
Statistics NICHUIW First downs 26 29 Total yards 74 69 Rushing yards 331 45 Passing yards 108 419 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 9–19–0 31–53–2 Time of possession 37:02 22:58 Team Category Player StatisticsNicholls Passing Pat McQuaide 9/19, 108 yards, 1 TD Rushing Jaylon Spears 23 carries, 160 yards Receiving Quincy Brown 5 receptions, 39 yardsIncarnate Word Passing Zach Calzada 28/48, 394 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT Rushing Isaiah Robinson 9 carries, 31 yards Receiving Brandon Porter 11 receptions, 158 yards, 1 TD
vs. Lamar
Statistics Statistics Lamar Nicholls First downs 18 24 Total yards 416 455 Rushing yards 127 349 Passing yards 289 106 Turnovers 3 0 Time of possession 26:14 33:46 Team Category Player StatisticsLamar Passing Robert Coleman 17/35; 289 total yds; TDs 2; INT 2; long 38 yds; sack 3 Rushing Robert Coleman 14 attempts; gained 93 yds; lost 21 yds; long 28 yds Receiving Kyndon Fuselier 3 receptions; 77 yds; TD 1; long 34 ydsNicholls Passing Pat McQuaide 9/17; 106 yds; TD 3; long 40 yds Rushing Jaylon Spears 16 attempts; gained 177 yds; TDs 2; long 69 yds Receiving Lee Negrotto 1 reception; 40 yds;
at Southeastern Louisiana
Statistics NICHSELA First downs 16 18 Total yards 59-392 65-218 Rushing yards 33-89 37-113 Passing yards 303 105 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 30:59 29:01 Team Category Player StatisticsNicholls Passing Pat McQuaide 20/25-1; 300 yds; 78 yds long; TDs 2; INT 1; sacks 2 Rushing Jaylon Spears 14 attempts; 65 yds gain; 7 yds loss; 28 yds long; Receiving David Robinson 4 receptions; 91 yds; 78 yds long; TD 1; Southeastern Louisiana Passing Zachary Clement 12/25; 98 yds; 23 yds long Rushing Rodeo Graham, Jr. 11 attempts; 58 yds gain; 15 yds long; Receiving Xavier Hill 3 receptions; 52 yds; 23 yds long
FCS Playoffs at Southern Illinois
Statistics NICHSIU First downs 12 23 Total yards 62-252 63-358 Rushing yards 33-75 37-177 Passing yards 177 181 Turnovers 3 0 Time of possession 28:50 31:10 Team Category Player StatisticsNicholls Passing Pat McQuaide 12/26; 127 yds; 41 yd long; INT 2 Rushing Jaylon Spears10 attempts; 44 yds gain; 8 yds long Receiving David Robinson Jr.5 receptions; 65 yds; 24 yd longSouthern Illinois Passing Nic Baker12/22; 168 yds; 27 yds long; TDs 2 Rushing Ro Elliott9 attempts; 111 yds; TDs 2; 60 yds Long Receiving D'Ante' Cox3 receptions; 63 yds; 27 yds Long
National recognition The Nicholls football team was recognized as the FedEx Ground FCS team of the week on November 6.
Conference awards and honors Weekly awards Nicholls players were recognized nine times as conference players of the week. Weekly honors Honors Player Position Date Awarded Ref. SLC Special Teams Player of the Week Gavin Lasseigne K September 11, 2023 SLC Defensive Player of the Week Tyler Morton S October 2, 2023 Special Teams Player of the Week Kylan Dupre P October 2, 2023 Offensive Player of the Week Collin Guggenheim RB October 9, 2023 Defensive Player of the Week Tyler Morton S October 9, 2023 Offensive Player of the Week Collin Guggenheim RB November 6, 2023 Defensive Player of the Week Devonté Mathews S November 6, 2023 SLC Offensive Player of the Week Jaylon Spears RB November 13, 2023 SLC Offensive Player of the Week Pat McQuaide QB November 20, 2023
Player and Coach of the Year Selections Nicholls head coach, Tim Rebowe, was named Southland Conference coach of the year. In addition, several Nicholls players were named players of the year.
2023 Southland Conference Football Individual Superlative Winners Player of the Year: Jaylon Spears, Nicholls Freshman of the Year: Rasheed Lovelace, Nicholls Offensive Lineman of the Year: Mark Barthelemy, Nicholls Coach of the Year: Tim Rebowe, Nicholls
Postseason All–Southland Teams The Southland Conference announced the 2023 all-conference football team selections on November 22, 2023. Nicholls had a total of 16 players selected.
Offense 1st Team Jaylon Spears – running back, R-SO Collin Guggenheim – running back, JR Mark Barthelemy – offensive lineman, SR Evan Roussel – offensive lineman, JR
2nd Team Pat McQuaide – quarterback, SO Lee Negrotto – tight end, JR David Robinson Jr. – wide receiver, R-JR Gavin Lasseigne – place kicker, SR Kylan Dupre – punter, SO
Defense
1st Team Tyler Morton – defensive back, JR Kendarius Smith – defensive back, JR
2nd Team Rasheed Lovelace – defensive lineman, R-FR Kershawn Fisher – defensive lineman, JR Perry Ganci – defensive lineman, SR Hayden Shaheen – linebacker, R-SO Jordan Jackson – defensive back, SR
Notes
References