Nicholls State University head football coach Tommy Rybacki announced a sizable 44-member recruiting class on National Signing Day as the Colonels continue building toward the 2026 season.
Now entering his second year leading the program, Rybacki landed 16 commitments during the December signing period and added 28 more in the weeks that followed. The class includes 18 mid-year enrollees, with five high school signees already on campus.
The 2026 class is heavily built in the trenches, featuring nine offensive linemen. Offensively, the group also includes three quarterbacks, four tight ends, one running back, and five wide receivers. On defense, Nicholls added six defensive linemen, five linebackers, five safeties, and six cornerbacks.
Geographically, the class has a strong regional footprint, highlighted by 22 signees from Louisiana and 14 from Mississippi. The remainder includes two players each from Alabama, Georgia, and Texas, one from Florida, and one international addition from Canada.
A full list of signees along with player bios is available through Nicholls Athletics.
Signees by Position
Offensive Line (9):
Malik Ellis (Troy), Trace Wegmann (Northeast CC), Thomas Ashe (Pascagoula), Raymond Johnson (Ocean Springs), Cylis Hill (Vandebilt Catholic), Cooper Taylor (Silliman), Kohl Fulton (Iowa), Charlie Ward (Walker), Isaac Latulippe (Champlain College)
Quarterbacks (3):
Chase Richardson (Holmes CC), Jack Landry (Erath), Cooper Babin (St. Amant)
Tight Ends (4):
Devin Scura (UTSA), Kyree Fuller (Georgia Military CC), Parker Smith (Asheville), Brendan Farish (Milton)
Running Back (1):
Patrick Gales (Brusly)
Wide Receivers (5):
Ellis Stewart (UAPB), Jacob Godfrey (ULM), Christian White (Mississippi Valley State), Chantz Babineaux (Carencro), Isaiah Leblanc (Breaux Bridge)
Defensive Line / EDGE (6):
Lionel Williams (Holmes CC), Romeo Brown (Edna Karr), Logan Jackson (Belle Chasse), Fred Dampeer (Co-Lin CC), Grant Merritt (William B. Travis), Scott Smith (Central)
Linebackers (5):
EJ Segrest (Holmes CC), Kennon Loftin (Western Kentucky), Kevin Martin (Edna Karr), Charlie Diedrich (E.D. White), Damari Drake (Evangel)
Safeties (5):
Skylar Husband (Southwest CC), Lynard Harris (ULM), Kristian Dillard (East Central CC), Kasai Jones (Georgia Military CC), Kristopher Griffin (Landry-Walker)
Cornerbacks (6):
Jhamal Shelby Jr. (Louisiana Tech), Zavion Dilworth (Eastern Michigan), Gary Bailey Jr. (Southwest CC), Prystyn Cambre (St. Charles Catholic), Cameron Allen (Southside), Draylon August (Lafayette Christian)
Spring Football
Nicholls State University will officially open preparation for the 2025 season when spring practice begins on March 14.
