Fournette has all the attention as a true freshman
August 21, 2014
Ingram, Cooks add depth to Saints’ powerful unit
August 21, 2014
Nicholls head football coach Charlie Stubbs has found himself in a pickle with his current quarterback situation.
Stubbs has three signal callers battling in fall camp to earn the right as the starter, seniors Kalen Henderson and Beaux Hebert and junior Tuskani Figaro.
Henderson, Hebert and Figaro all bring something different to the table, which adds a little pressure to Stubbs’ plate. But the veteran coach said he would much rather have three quarterbacks than be stuck with one viable starting option.
“It is better than the alternative where you don’t have but one or something like that,” Stubbs said. “They get along well, but all of them want to be the guy under there making plays so I got good competition.”
So far, Henderson has been getting most of the first team reps in practice with Hebert relieving him on occasion throughout practice. Figaro has been working his way back up the depth chart after missing a few practices with minor back spasms.
Last season, Figaro lead the team in passing and rushing yards, proving to be a true dual threat. Figaro set the bar for rushing yards in a single game in Nicholls’ history with 281 yards in a win over Arkansas Tech. That game helped push him to set the school’s single season mark as well with 1,103 yards.
If given the chance to be the starter, Figaro said he wants to showcase his arm, as well.
“Last year was fun running around, but this year I would like to not run as much,” Figaro said. “I would like to be able to use our running game and pass a little bit more so everybody is getting their touches.”
Figaro is not downplaying expectations offensively. The junior quarterback said he wants the Colonels to have anywhere from 3,000-to-4,000 passing yards and 2,000 rushing yards as a team. Figaro completed a little under 53 percent of his passes last season and threw eight touchdowns to six interceptions, which is another number Figaro wants to improve on.
“Footwork and hips was something I have been working on so it is not just my upper body when I throw. I have been improving, but I still have a lot to improve on,” Figaro said. “During fall camp is the time to get my extra time in.”
Hebert was tabbed last season’s starter, but that was short lived after being concussed in the season opener against Oregon. Hebert went on to start two more games and played in nine total finishing with the highest completion percentage (58.1 percent) among the signal callers. His touchdown-to-interception ratio of 7 to 3 was also a team-best.
Henderson made his Colonel debut after Hebert sustained the head injury against Oregon in the season opener. The University of Tulsa transfer threw for 214 yards while tallying 46 more on the ground.
In the second week against Western Michigan, Henderson started strong completing 8-of-11 passing with 111 yards, adding 87 yards on the ground. However, Henderson went down with a leg injury about midway through the contest forcing Stubbs to play his hand with his third string in Figaro.
Henderson returned later in the year against Stephen F. Austin completing three-of-four passes for a touchdown late in the game. Henderson played significantly more the following week against McNeese, completing 8-of-20 passing for two touchdowns and an interception.
The former University of Tulsa, turned Nicholls transfer said he never returned to early season form and is striving to have a more consistent 2014 season.
“I have to start strong, stay healthy and continue to improve on my mechanics. I just need to do what I can to help move the offense,” Henderson said. “That is what we are looking for in this battle, whoever can be the best leader and control the offense the best.”
Stubbs has stressed to all of his guys that they have to be on their A-game at all times as he evaluates who he wants as his starter for the season opener at Air Force Aug. 30 in Colorado.
“I told them that this is a quarterback-oriented offense, and when they play well, we play well. We can’t come out and have a mediocre day, because we will have a hard time,” Stubbs said. “The other thing I want to see is leadership and that they help make the other 10 guys in the huddle better.”
Stubbs did not shy away from talking about his fourth string quarterback waiting in the wings, Dash Duncan, who enters his third season as a redshirt sophomore. He made his debut last season against University of Louisiana-Lafayette completing 5-of-11 passing for 31 yards. It is unlikely for the former St. Michael quarterback to get his number called in a starter’s role, but Stubbs says he will be ready if it is needed throughout the course of the season.
“Dash is doing well, but he understands his situation,” Stubbs said. “He is coming on strong too so he is ready when called upon.”
The Colonels open their season away at Air Force on Aug. 30. They will also play Arkansas and North Texas in a challenging pre-Southland slate.
Stubbs has said the scrimmages will give him a true batting order before the season opener.
Nicholls State University football coach Charlie Stubbs has a luxury that most coaches do not have this fall. He has three players who could potentially be his starting quarterback for the upcoming season. Beaux Hebert, Tuskani Figaro and Kalen Henderson (pictured) all have starting experience and have enjoyed success under center in their collegiate careers. Stubbs said he will use the preseason scrimmages to determine the order to play his players before opening the season with Air Force.
