Nicholls State University unveiled it’s 2025 football signing class today – a group that has some big names on the list.
The Colonels unveiled their class at noon today at a signing day ceremony – a 27-player class that covers the entire depth chart and which will be a nice feather in first-year head coach Tommy Rybacki’s cap as he transitions the team under his leadership.
The Colonels signed 12 offensive players, 10 defensive players, 2 athletes and 3 special teams specialists in their crop. Rybacki said at the press conference that he wanted to applaud the work of his staff for hitting the recruiting trail, building relationships and locking down an impressive group of players.
Nicholls has some Power 5 talent in its 2025 signees.
The Colonels inked 5 players who transferred in with experience at Power 5 schools.
Those players include offensive lineman Jacob Hood who has played at Georgia and Nebraska; quarterback Deuce Hogan who has played at Iowa, Kentucky and New Mexico State; receiver Landon Ibieta who played at LSU; defensive lineman Gavin Nelson who has played at Mississippi State and defensive back Elijah Sabbatini who has played at Southern Miss and Ole Miss.
But the transfer players were the exception and not the rule. The Colonels had a slew of high school players in their crop, including multiple players from some of the winningest programs in the state.
Nicholls also recruited players with size, inking several players well over 6-feet tall and with college-ready bodies, players who Rybacki said he believes can compete right away to play at the FCS level.
See the Colonels’ full list of signees below:
NICHOLLS’ 2025 FOOTBALL SIGNING CLASS
Jacob Hood, OL, 6-8, 350, Nebraska/Georgia transfer
Preston Jones, OL, 6-4, 290, University High
Caleb Smith, OL, 6-3, 300, Brother Martin
Ja’Mard Jones, OL, 6-4, 290, Rummel
Deuce Hogan, QB, 6-4, 220, New Mexico State transfer
Jackson Firmin, QB, 6-3, 200, Central BR
Jonathan Dartez, athlete, 5-8, 175, Vermilion Catholic
Carsen Hebert, athlete, 5-11, 185, CCA
Everett Hunter, TE, 6-3, 240, New Mexico transfer
Landon Ibieta, WR, 5-11, 195, LSU transfer
Jordan Smith, WR, 6-0, 195, New Mexico State transfer
Amari Clayton, WR, 6-2, 200, Catholic BR
Cohen LeBlanc, WR, 5-11, 185, Catholic BR
Kylin Wheeler, WR, 5-11, 170, Rayne High School
Shay Collins, DL, 6-6, 220, Mamou High
Gavin Nelson, DL, 6-5, 285, Mississippi State transfer
Chase Chesser, DL, 6-6, 250, Brother Martin
Griffin Ellis, DL, 6-2, 275, Jesuit
Alec Haynes, LB, 6-2, 225, University High
Keith Newsome Jr., LB, 6-1, 200, McDonogh 35
Cale Daigle, LB, 6-1, 225, St. Paul’s
Kamp Shepherd, LB, 6-1, 200, Northwest Community College
Elijah Sabbatini, DB, 6-1, 200, Ole Miss/Southern Miss transfer
Braylon Noel, DB, 5-11, 165, Acadiana High
William Stewart, snapper, 5-11, 210, Memphis transfer
Sean Hebert, K, 5-9, 160, Vandebilt
Pharrell Harewood, P, 6-3, 215, United Kingdom NFL Academy