Finding some beef

When Charlie Stubbs was hired at Nicholls State in 2010, he told me he needed to add size and physicality to his football team and especially what I call the real skilled players, offensive and defensive linemen.

The process has taken a few years, but the Colonels have added some real beef and talent along their offensive line for 2013. This season the Colonels have converted former Central Lafourche High School defensive tackle Jared Breaux (6-2, 290) to offensive center and they will also have former South Lafourche High School standout offensive lineman Rafe Plaisance (6-3, 320) as a projected starter at offensive guard.

This year’s recruiting class brought them Assumption High School offensive lineman Hunter Alleman (6 -3, 285), St. Michael the Archangel in Baton Rouge offensive tackle Blake Hartman (6-5, 240), Dutchtown High School offensive center/guard Brian Hernandez (6-1, 285) and the Colonels recently landed Destrehan High School offensive tackle Noland Sharpe (6-2, 265) who is most likely to become an offensive guard.

But the big news last week was the Colonels landed two additional offensive linemen in former Destrehan and SMU offensive guard/center Ashton Duhe (6-3, 300) and former Desire Street Academy in New Orleans and University of Memphis offensive guard Nicholas Chartain (6-4, 325), and both are immediately eligible to play for the Colonels in 2013.
“This was an area of concern for us, especially numbers-wise,” Stubbs said. “The previous coaching staff recruited smaller offensive linemen that fit what they did ran offensively and it was a run-oriented attack, but for what we want to do here we needed bigger players and more physical players and we are getting those type offensive linemen now and we have a little depth.” Stubbs admits injuries have forced some offensive lineman into games before they are truly prepared for the physical play. “Ideally, I would have liked to get them a redshirt season and have them get bigger and stronger in the weight room, but that just wasn’t the case. We had to play some young men quicker than what we wanted and we struggled some,” Stubbs said. “I feel good about what we have been able to acquire through the high school ranks, junior college system and a few transfers. Duhe and Chastain have played Division I football and they are coming in immediately to compete for positions, starting or depth-wise on our team. I am very pleased with those pickups, along with Noland Sharpe from Destrehan. We know that the River Parish area is very blessed with great football talent, along with the New Orleans area and getting those three young men to help our offensive line is something that will help us progress quicker on offense.” Now for Stubbs, the key to producing a winning product on the field will be to find quality defensive linemen, like they have in offensive linemen and keeping quarterback Beaux Hebert healthy in 2013.