Nicholls State’s offense is anxious to get the 2009 season started

Entering preseason drills, one question loomed in the back of every Nicholls Colonel fan’s mind about the offense: Who will be the starting quarterback this season?

Well that question won’t be answered until Saturday’s season opener against Air Force.

For the first time in four years the team has to start all over with a freshman under center.

All summer long, redshirt freshmen Laquintin Caston and Jacob Witt have had competitive battles to vie for the starting quarterback role along with junior Nolan Dumas, an E.D. White product, and redshirt freshman Hosea Chatman of Ellender fame.

Each athlete brings something different to the table and, according to offensive coordinator H.T. Kinney, all possess the necessary skills to contribute to the team this season.

“What we lack in experience we make up for in talent,” Kinney said. “Both Witt and Caston are showing us some special things and throwing the ball. They are both coming along really well.”

However, like most teams with a new set of players, learning the offense takes time, and the Colonels are no exception. Kinney said the Colonels have the makings of a great team anxious to avenge last season’s finish, but it’ll take time.

“It takes a good bit of timing,” he explained. “We have some new starters, but a lot of new players to our program. Then we have our new freshmen. We think as a staff we are faster than what we have been in the past.”

“We are excited with the young men we have to work with and what we can become,” he added. “Will it be Sept. 5? We don’t know. But we know we will be a very good football team, it’s just a matter of time.”

Both Witt and Caston said their job is easier knowing the other is there to give them a break.

“My high school coach was telling me you may like the guy but you need to come in and have a boxer mentality,” Witt said. “Laquintin is a great guy. It’s hard for me to do that. We’re both going to compete for the job and I’m sure we’re both going to play. We feed off each other and support each other.”

“Having another guy is a great thing,” Caston added. “Our offense is tiring and somebody else who can spare you a couple plays is a great feeling. Jake is a great player. He’s fast and he can read defense. We’ll be a great complement to each other.”

With preseason all-conference performer Antonio Robinson returning for his senior season, the Colonels are going to be sure to put the ball in his hands in some way.

Even in the option offense, the Colonels are finding ways to use the receiver to utilize his athleticism.

According to receivers coach Kent Keith, Robinson will be used for screens, reverses and in motion this season.

“We don’t want to tip our hats too much but the thing we are going to try to do offensively is put the ball in the best athlete’s hands,” he said. “Put him in motion, start him in different positions and let him show his speed and athleticism. And when the ball is in the air, we make it a point to catch it. No balls on the ground.”

However, even with Robinson, the team won’t stray away from their tradition – the triple option – which when run effectively can be difficult to defend. It was the same offense that led the Colonels to the conference championship in 2005.

“People want to see the ball in the air,” Kinney admitted. “But if you look at those teams who pass 40 or 50 times a game, if they had completed some of those, they wouldn’t have to pass as much. We want to do what makes us consistent. And we don’t have the tall offensive lineman like other schools to be able to pass every down. We’re not afraid to throw it when we feel the time is right.”

As with any option team, the success of the offense will rely on the play of the offensive line, quarterbacks and halfbacks, all positions the Colonels believe are solid.

“We are really excited about our running backs,” Thomas said. “A.J. Williams, Corey Buchanan, Brandon Johnson, Kendrick Salter, there’s a lot of guys back there. Trey Hopson brings a lot of experience back to the fullback position and Justin McCreary, freshman from Alabama, is a load. I’m calling him ‘Earl Campbell.’ He’s 245-250 pounds. He’ll be a guy who everybody gets to know in the future.”

As a whole, the offense has impressed Thomas in camp. And while the quarterbacks are a large part of the option, it’s the play of the offensive line that will determine how well the team does this season.

Senior lineman Aric Flowers enters his fifth season as a Colonel. The Plano, Texas native said the line is ready to get out and hit someone other than teammates.

Alongside juniors Ren Cheramie, Brandon Ward and Spenser Langthorn, Flowers looks to help move the Colonels from second in the conference in rushing to first.

“We’re going to get after it,” he said. “We hope Air Force doesn’t take us seriously because we are going to go up there and hit them in the mouth. Grant it the game is probably going to be an hour and a half long because we both run the option. We’re going to be ready for them. I want people to take us for granted so we can come out there and get after them.”

One thing the team is looking to do is rebound from last season’s worst in the conference ranking in scoring offense.

The Colonels only managed to score 231 points (25.7 average points per game), a whole 89 points away from the seventh place ranked Northwestern State Demons.

The Colonels also led the conference in turnover margin, losing 18 fumbles and throwing six interceptions all season.

Junior fullback Corey Buchanan said the team is well aware last season didn’t go as they planned, and they look to use that as extra motivation heading into this season.

He’s ready to help carry the load of the Colonels offense this season after finishing last season as the team’s second leading rusher with 358 yards.

“I’m hungry and I know I’m not the only one,” Buchanan said. “We had a good summer workout program. Everyone has been working hard. We’re just excited to get back out there. We know we’re better than the record showed a year ago.”

“We have a lot of weapons at running back and fullback,” he added. “The load won’t be on just my shoulders but I’m ready to go out there. We finished strong at the end of the season. Hopefully, we can carry that over into this year.”

Without the distraction of hurricanes this season the Colonels look to find their groove early, and carry the momentum into conference play.

“I have a good feeling about these guys,” Thomas said. “It’s probably one of the better camps we’ve had with the enthusiasm and the team was in great shape. It’s been going really smooth. The team is coming along really good. It is a process but we’re still going through that process right now.”

Redshirt freshman Jacob Witt is competing for the starting quarterback position for Nicholls State. A decision is not expected to be made until the team takes the field Saturday against Air Force. * Photo by KYLE CARRIER