Willie Francis
November 7, 2013
Gertrude Frances Norris
November 13, 2013
Nicholls running back Dalton Hilliard has provided an integral cog in the Colonels’ offense when he’s been on the field this season.
Going into the season behind starting tailback Marcus Washington on the depth chart, Hilliard hadn’t seen much playing time through the first half of the season.
That all changed when Washington suffered a season-ending knee injury in the Colonels’ victory over Northwestern State in the Southland Conference opener for both schools back on Oct. 12.
The injury was particularly disappointing since Washington had rushed for a career-high three touchdowns earlier in that game and Nicholls was on its way to a 33-21 victory and a promising 4-2 start.
Hilliard took over at running back and proceeded to reel off three straight performances where he averaged no less than five yards per carry. He rushed 18 times for 93 yards (5.16) and two touchdowns against Stephen F. Austin, 15 times for 93 yards (6.2) against McNeese State, and 12 times for 111 yards (9.25) and two touchdowns against Lamar.
The senior tailback saw only one carry in last Saturday’s loss 49-24 loss at Sam Houston State – the Colonels’ fourth in a row – after setting a career-high in rushing the week before against Lamar. He was injured on the Colonels’ first drive of the game last Saturday and did not return.
Hilliard said he didn’t feel as if he was breaking out and that merely was gaining a better feel of the game and the Colonels’ offense.
“With each week of practice, I’m preparing harder and harder,” Hilliard said. “I’ve also gained more confidence in my whole line. They’re making the right reads. I credit the line a whole lot. They prepared very hard during the summer and in fall camp. Each of them is giving it their best and they’re competing.”
Having a good rapport with the offensive line has been important not only to Hilliard’s success but the rest of the Colonels’ offense.
Nicholls had seamlessly managed to plug Hilliard in at running back in place of Washington, in addition to getting contributions from three different quarterbacks this season in Tuskani Figaro, Kalen Henderson, and Beaux Hebert.
Through the first nine games of the season, that led to an average of 29 points per contest.
While losing Washington to an injury was a painful blow, the Colonels didn’t appear to be slacking off much in the running game whenever Hilliard was in the backfield.
“We all have a great relationship with the offensive line,” Hilliard said. “We all come together and we all just have fun. We prepare well and practice hard. We all do it for each other.”
As for what Hilliard brings to the table at running back, he’s not sure if there’s any secret to his success.
“I’m just being myself,” he said. “Anything I bring to the table, it’s all due to a team effort. I can’t do anything without the rest of my team. One thing I learned from (Washington) is that he runs very hard. I feel like if you run hard and keep moving your feet, everything will go fine. Even if the hole’s not there, (Washington) was able to make a hole. I sort of learned from that and how he made his reads.”
Of course, no mention of Hilliard would be complete without referencing his family history a bit.
His father, Dalton Sr., starred at running back for the New Orleans Saints from 1986-93. His cousin, Ike Hilliard, was a star wide receiver for the University of Florida during Steve Spurrier’s run with the Gators in the ‘90s and eventually became a first-round draft pick by the New York Giants in 1997.
More recently, Hilliard’s cousin, Kenny, has become a standout tailback at LSU.
In South Louisiana, “Hilliard” is pretty much a household name, and Dalton Jr., knows a certain stigma and expectation comes with that name.
“I really don’t feel any pressure with it,” Hilliard said. “We all come from the same background but we’re all completely different people. We all just play our own game.”
Listed as 5-feet, 6-inches, Hilliard doesn’t have quite the height advantage that his father or cousins share, but he doesn’t view that as a disadvantage.
“My dad, he was a hard runner, very fast and quick on his cuts,” Hilliard said. “My cousin (Kenny), he’s more of a down hill, run-hard type of back. Me, I’m just a little bit of my cousin and my dad.”
Hilliard is on track to graduate in December and says he plans to try out for the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis next year. The extent of his injury was not yet available at press time.
Hilliard’s return would be nice for Nicholls in their next game –a Saturday afternoon tilt with Central Arkansas in Thibodaux.
The Bears will enter the game with a 5-5 record and one of the most explosive offenses in the Southland Conference.
Central Arkansas also has some south Louisiana flare within its program.
Bears coach Clint Conque is a Nicholls alum.
Kickoff for the game is set for 3 p.m. at the Colonels’ John L. Guidry Stadium.
The Colonels fell to Central Arkansas last season in a road game.
Nicholls State halfback Dalton Hilliard takes a halfoff during a game this season. The Colonels’ halfback has been a nice addition to the Nicholls offense since starter Marcus Washington went down with a season-ending injury. The Colonels will return to the field this weekend against Central Arkansas.
