Laiche named Southland Player of the Year

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November 26, 2019
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There were questions in the preseason about whether Sully Laiche would even play for Nicholls in 2019.


His back was giving him problems and he missed the first two games of the season.

But he did eventually return and did he ever play – at a higher level of anyone in the entire conference.

Laiche was named the Southland Conference Football Player of the Year on Tuesday, the second-straight season the Colonels take home the league’s highest individual honor.


Laiche was an absolute mule in the middle of Nicholls’ defense. He posted 10 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss, making countless big plays to help the Colonels win.

Arguably his biggest play of the season came on Thursday night when he recovered a fumble at the goalline with the game on the line to help Nicholls edge past Southeastern to win the Southland.

Laiche is now a four-time All-Southland selection and the first defensive player to win Conference Player of the Year since 2007.


Laiche’s honor was one of many for Nicholls.

The Colonels mopped up Southland awards. Quarterback Chase Fourcade was named the Offensive Player of the Year in the Southland and P.J. Burkhalter was picked as the league’s Offensive Lineman of the Year.

The Colonels also received 8 first-team selections to the All-Southland Conference teams.


The Colonels had 12 total All-Southland recipients.

First-team honorees included running back Julien Gums, wide receiver Dai’Jean Dixon, offensive tackle Bradston Burnside, linebacker Allen Pittman, and safety Kevin Moore III. Second-team members were offensive tackle Jair Joseph and linebacker Laryon James, and tight end Jordan Talley and safety Khristian Mims landed on third team. This year marks the first that the league included a third team and removed honorable mentions.