Pre-season accolades aren’t getting in way of game for NSU player

Southland Conference Newcomer of the Year. First-Team All-American. 2007 Buck Buchanan Award Finalist.

These are just a few of the accolades that Nicholls State defensive back Lardarius Webb garnered following a stellar junior season for the Colonels.

Webb’s 36 tackles and five interceptions on defense; nine rushes for 126 yards and one touchdown on offense; and 16 punt returns for 273 yards and one touchdown on special teams unanimously earned him the title preseason All-American.

Those stats have NFL scouts salivating over his possible first round draft status coming into his senior season in 2008.

A clear distraction, and it has to go to his head, right?

“I don’t talk about it, I don’t think about it and I don’t let it change me,” the Opelika, Ala. native said. “That was last year. Those awards were last year. It’s a new year, this is a new team and we’re looking for new accomplishments this year.”

If anything, Webb wasn’t satisfied with last season and wants to improve himself.

Despite being one of the top performers on the field, Webb felt he wasn’t enough of a leader last season.

After playing in the same defensive backfield as current Washington Redskins safety Kareem Moore, Webb believes he knows the tools of the trade to being a vocal leader on and off the field.

Entering his senior season, he understands he is expected to teach the younger guys. A role he has already embraced.

“I need to be a better leader,” he repeated. “Kareem Moore taught me a lot about being a leader. I think I’m a great leader now, and a lot of guys look up to me. Those are things I have been working on.”

And that he has. In fact, his leadership skills have even caught the eye of coaches.

“He’s taken that approach out there with the younger guys,” fifth-year Nicholls State head coach Jay Thomas said. “The biggest thing is the guy comes to work everyday. He doesn’t take a day off.”

He added that Webb also leads by example in addition to being the vocal leader.

“He has both gifts which is unique because you either lead by example or you can’t lead on the field. He does both.”

When Webb first came to Nicholls as a transfer from the University of Southern Mississippi, no one, not even he knew what to expect.

The decision to leave Southern Miss wasn’t an easy one, but it was based on playing time. Surely he has to have regrets?

“I was told to never have regrets about anything and I don’t,” Webb said about the decision to leave the FBS school. “I’m happy here (at Nicholls) and I love the place I am at at the moment. It was obviously the best decision for me.”

Obviously it worked out for Webb, as he’s made himself at home with the Colonels.

He’s become a standout for the Colonels this season as a multi-threat athlete and has opened new options for the Colonels on offense, defense and special teams.

Thomas said he expects special teams to be crucial this season, as Webb will see his time as a punt return man.

“If you remember the game against Rice last season came down to special teams-a blocked punt,” Thomas said. “Special teams will be the most important phase of the game and he (Webb) is a big part of that.”

It was also during that game that Webb shined. Matched up against All-American Rice receiver Kenny Dillard, Webb held Dillard without a catch as the Colonels pulled the upset.

Despite excelling on the football field, it wasn’t always Webb’s first love. During his younger years Webb always assumed basketball would be his sport but during his middle school year’s, he realized football was his better chance to find success.

“Football started emerging as my best sport,” he said. “I always knew I was going to play some sport, I just didn’t know which one it was going to be.”

If he wasn’t playing football right now, Webb says he’d probably be on the hardwood running the pick and roll instead of running down defenders.

When he’s not shutting down All-American receivers, earning the numerous honors or practicing with his teammates, Webb said he is usually just at home relaxing.

Football is a busy sport and while he hopes his career isn’t over soon, he already has post-football plans to be cautious. Ironically, those plans also include football.

“I want Coach Thomas’ job,” he said. “I want to be a head coach somewhere one day. Hopefully I have a long career ahead of me, but once football is over I want to be a coach.”

As most coaches do, he’s already taken a liking to golf, even though he’s only played it once-at the Southland Conference media days.

“He shot a birdie and was going around showing everyone the ball,” Thomas said. “When we went to leave that night I couldn’t find him. He was on the golf course with the other players from other teams having a competition.”

Webb responded, “Coach (Thomas) told me that if I want to be a coach I have to play golf, it was a necessity. It was fun, and I’d definitely do it again.”

Until then the Colonels just like seeing Webb on the Guidry Stadium Astro Turf, doing what he does best.

Preseason All-American Lardarius Webb runs through drills during a practice before the storms. Webb, who transferred from the University of Southern Mississippi before last season has drawn attention from NFL scouts. * Photo by KYLE CARRIER