Colonels unveil top-tier signing class

Locals grateful for collegiate opportunities
February 13, 2019
All work, no play … but we’re OK with it
February 13, 2019
Locals grateful for collegiate opportunities
February 13, 2019
All work, no play … but we’re OK with it
February 13, 2019

If the old adage is true and football games actually are won at the line of scrimmage, then it’s very likely that there’s a bright future ahead for the Nicholls football team.

The Colonels unveiled their 2019 Signing Class last week on National Signing Class — a beefy group filled with linemen on both sides of the football.

Rebowe said it’s by design. After losing several players along both lines of scrimmage, the Colonels’ coaching staff pinpointed linemen as a point of emphasis and they delivered with seven defensive linemen and three offensive linemen in a 20-player class that was star-studded with several two and three-star players ranked by prominent recruiting services.


“We kind of went heavy on the lines on both sides of the ball,” Rebowe said. “That was a point of need for us this year. … It’s a good class. there are kids in this class that we think will be able to help us — as early maybe as this coming fall.”

Nicholls got big, thick, athletic players at the line of scrimmage.

On the offensive line, the Colonels signed Warren Easton standout Caleb Etienne (6-6, 300), as well as Many lineman Leonard Hickman (6-3, 305) and Horn Lake High School (Mississippi) prospect Matthew Williams (6-2, 285).


Etienne and Hickman were top prizes in Louisiana. Etienne was a three-star recruit on Rivals.com and an All-State selection for a Warren Easton team that was among the best in Louisiana.

Hickman, too, is a catch — an offensive anchor for a Many team that’s gone deep in the playoffs in each of the past three seasons.

Williams also comes decorated as a 3-star prospect and an All-State selection.


Rebowe said in addition to signing great players, the Colonels also wanted to seek out guys who were on winning teams.

Most of the 20 signees were on powerhouse programs — teams that made deep playoff pushes.

“I think those guys know what it takes to be successful,” Rebowe said of the emphasis on recruiting ‘winning players’. “Usually, those guys are team captains for their own teams. Those guys are good in the locker room, too. They know what it takes to be successful.”


On the defensive line, the Colonels took seven players — including a slew or top-tier prospects.

The Colonels took Ascension Catholic lineman Dillion Davis, Jesuit’s Perry Ganci, Zachary’s Caleb Jackson, Horn Lake High School (Mississippi) standout Omar Pew, Catholic (Baton Rouge) standout Elijah Reames, Evangel’s Chris Thomas and Southern Lab prospect Chris Welch.

Welch was a guy Rebowe identified as a candidate to see early playing time.


Standing 6-feet, 4-inches and weighing 260 pounds, Welch was a rush-end at Southern Lab and a 3-star prospect. He was ranked as the No. 81 player in Louisiana by 247 Sports. He was a two-time All-State selection and a three-time All-District pick. As a senior, he recorded 86 tackles (16 for a loss) and 14 sacks.

“He’s an explosive player,” Rebowe said.

Offensive, Nicholls only took seven players (three were linemen), but they did sign arguably the top quarterback in the area for the past several seasons.


Nicholls inked former Vandebilt quarterback and Hahnville High School senior Andrew Robison — making good on an offer they made to the prospect in his junior season.

Robison was a force at Vandebilt, but was suspended for all-but three games of his senior season after challenging the LHSAA in arbitration after questions regarding possible recruitment after his transfer from Vandebilt.

As a junior, Robison passes for 2,699 yards and 34 scores. For his career, he amassed 5,872 passing yards and 69 touchdowns.


Rebowe said he was impressed with Robison’s poise throughout the entire LHSAA investigation, adding that he was impressed with how sharp the senior was late in the season, despite having to sit out the early part of the season.

“It was a big, big feather in our cap to get a good quarterback in this class,” Rebowe said. “How (Andrew) handled that whole situation that happened to him, I thought was incredible. He handled it with class and he stayed true to who he was. … He’s a guy who we hope can come in and compete for some playing time.”

The Colonels also supplied Robison with weapons, inking John Curtis tight end Levon Williams, Hancock High School (Mississippi) receiver Brooks Rayburn and St. Amant athlete KJ Franklin.


Rebowe said after some smaller recruiting classes, he knew the Colonels had scholarships to have a bigger group in 2019 and after working hard to put the group together, he said he’s satisfied with the fruits of his coaching staff’s labors.

2019 Signing Class


Ja’mel Cooley, LB, 6-0, 215, New Orleans, La. (Carver)

Dillion Davis, DL, 6-2, 270, Donaldsonville, La. (Ascension Catholic)

Caleb Etienne, OL, 6-6, 300, New Orleans, La. (Warren Easton)


KJ Franklin, ATH, 5-9, 175, Prairieville, La. (St. Amant)

Perry Ganci, DL, 6-1, 250, Metairie, La. (Jesuit)

Shawn Hall, DB, 5-11, 185, Donaldsonville, La. (Assumption)


Leonard Hickman, OL, 6-3, 305, Many, La. (Many)

Caleb Jackson, DL, 6-1, 255, Zachary, La. (Zachary)

Jordan Jackson, DB, 5-10, 175, Prairieville, La. (Dutchtown)


Jarius Monroe, DB, 6-1, 190, LaPlace, La. (East St. John)

Kevin Moore, DB, 6-0, 205, Lafayette, La. (Acadiana/Texas Tech)

Derrick Munson, DB, 6-0, 200, Metairie, La. (Rummel/Arkansas)


Omar Pew, DL, 5-11, 280, Horn Lake, Miss. (Horn Lake)

Brooks Rayburn, WR, 6-2, 190, Waveland, Miss (Hancock)

Elijah Reames, DL, 6-2, 245, Baton Rouge, La. (Catholic)


Andrew Robison, QB, 6-1, 190, Luling, La. (Hahnville)

Chris Thomas, DL, 6-1, 250, Shreveport, La. (Evangel)

Chris Welch, DL, 6-4, 260, Baton Rouge, La. (Southern Lab)


Levon Williams, TE, 6-3, 215, Kenner, La. (John Curtis)

Matthew Williams, OL, 6-2, 285, Horn Lake, Miss. (Horn Lake)

Rebowe sign


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