Dotson, Smith named Southland Players of the Week

FRISCO, Texas – Nicholls State University junior Kenny Dotson and redshirt freshman Tahj Smith have been named Southland Conference Defensive and Offensive Players of the Week, respectively, the league office announced Monday morning.

Dotson registered 3.5 sacks in the Colonels’ win 34-13 at Stephen F. Austin, totaling eight stops with four for loss. The defensive end from Plaquemine, Louisiana accounted for -22 yards lost and two of his sacks came on third down. The 3.5 sacks are the most for any player in the Southland this year. As a unit, the Colonel defense limited SFA to 261 total yards on offense and 2.6 yards per carry.

Heading into Saturday with only one carry for his career, Smith subbed in after the Colonels’ two starting running backs left the game due to injury and went on to total 177 yards on 23 carries, which is the second-most rushing yards for a Southland player this season. His longest rush of the game was a 33-yarder and he capped his career day with a 20-yard run up the middle for his first touchdown. A native of LaPlace, Louisiana, Smith was one of two Colonels to eclipse the 100-yard mark (Kyran Irvin – 160 yards) in the win over SFA as Nicholls finished with 418 yards on the ground.

Dotson and Smith is the first duo for the Colonels to earn Southland honors in the same week. Wide receiver Damion Jeanpiere Jr. received the nod in Week 2 and kicker Lorran Fonseca, who garnered honorable mention this week, has received the award twice for special teams.

The nationally-ranked Colonels close out the regular season with the annual River Bell Classic against Southeastern Louisiana. Kickoff on Thursday, Nov. 16 in Hammond is scheduled for 6 p.m.