Florida high school teammates together again as Colonels

In most cases, when two players from the same high school end up on the same college team it’s because they’ve become good friends and followed each other. But the case of Nicholls’ senior wide receiver Antonio Robinson and junior defensive lineman Marquis Russell is a bit different. It was sheer coincidence that brought the two South Dade High School (Florida) teammates together again in Thibodaux.

While Thibodaux is a far cry from the bikini-clad women and beaches of south Florida, the two have gained a mutual respect for each other as they adjust to life hundreds of miles away from home.

It’s made the transition to college life a bit easier for one, and helped the other not feel alone.

Five years ago, Russell and Robinson were sitting next to each other in Mrs. Moore’s Spanish class at the Homestead, Fla. school taking the required elective.

Robinson, a senior wide receiver for the Buccaneers and Russell, a sophomore defensive lineman, got to know each other in the classroom and off the field.

But after Robinson finished his senior season with 550 yards and six touchdowns and was voted the team’s most valuable player, he headed north for Rainy River Community College in International Falls, Minn. to continue his football career.

Russell, in the meantime, played his final two years at South Dade and headed to Ventura Community College in California with the same goal in mind.

It appeared as though the two would never cross paths again, but little did they know that their football careers would take them in the same direction.

Following Robinson’s two-year stint in Minnesota, he was expected to join the football team at Louisiana-Lafayette, but as fate would determine, it was not meant to be.

Russell experienced a similar fate when trying to get on the team at the University of Hawaii. After looking around, he chose to take a trip to south Louisiana and visit Nicholls.

That’s when he crossed paths with a familiar face.

On his visit to Thibodaux, Russell was greeted by Robinson, who served as host.

Russell knew Robinson was a member of the Colonels, but Robinson was not aware Russell was interested in the school until he learned of his visit from head football coach Jay Thomas.

“It just kind of worked out that he was coming here for a visit,” Robinson said. “I ended up hosting him on a recruiting visit. I showed him around and talked to him when he was coming in. He made the decision to sign here.”

Knowing he’d have a former high school teammate to confide in made the decision to sign with the Colonels that much easier, according to Russell.

“It played a big key,” he said. “It was a familiar face in a new area so I didn’t feel so out of place. I didn’t have to worry about walking around alone and making new friends. It made the transition that much easier.”

Not long after Russell signed with the Colonels the two became reacquainted.

Thomas said that he planned to use Robinson as a selling point to Russell, once he learned Russell was interested in possibly playing football at Nicholls.

In turn, Russell also brought college teammate, linebacker Ed James, also from Florida, with him to Nicholls.

“It’s funny how that works out,” Thomas said. “That’s why we wanted Antonio to host him. He’s kind of become the leader of the pack in that group. When you have guys who can recruit each other it makes it that much easier.”

Having two guys from the same area, Thomas said, has one main advantage: When they can’t travel back home for some of the holidays, they have each other to spend time with.

“It’s not easy for a guy, when you have a holiday break and you live so far from home,” he said. “When everyone else has an opportunity to go home for the holidays, you end up staying around here, so this becomes home. It’s good to have guys from the same area so they can hang out together and when they do go home they usually travel together.”

Because of this, the two have become even closer, according to Robinson.

“It makes me feel like I’m not alone,” he said. “I feel almost like I’m back in high school again. We’re from the same system. It’s good to have someone to relate to.”

As the team barber, the receiver even gets to cut Russell’s hair.

“It’s great to have a person to be able to clown around with and just hang out with off the field,” Russell said. “I don’t feel like I’m in a new place because I have people I know.”

Together, the two are making their mark on the Colonels. Robinson finished last season with 502 yards and six touchdowns.

Although he only has one score in the run-oriented offense this season, he still leads the team with 18 catches for 251 yards and has also caught the eye of NFL scouts.

Russell is tied for sixth on the team in tackles (17) and is tied for second with 1.5 sacks on the season.

Thomas said both athletes bring something different to the Colonels, being raised in a football-rich area.

“Not too many guys are as talented as they are,” the coach said. “They play good football down in that area. Antonio has really proven to be a polished receiver and has learned to do some other things that he didn’t get to do last year. Obviously, we are trying to include him a little bit more into the game plan. But he does well.

“Marquis is new to the program but he is talented as well,” Thomas added. “He is learning to play the defensive line the way we want him to play at the Division I level. At times things are really good and at times not so good. It’s a little hit and miss with him right now but that’s the thing. It’s trying to get him to break some old habits. That’s where we are right now.”

But even as the two have tried their best to contribute, they both look to push each other to succeed.

“(Antonio) brings the big play capability,” Russell said. “He’s probably the fastest person on our team. We can move him around and do different things. I think they even put in a passing play for him so he can throw it. He’s a great athlete.”

Robinson was quick to pass on praise to his teammate as well.

“He’s big, has quickness and, in my opinion, he is probably one of the most athletic defensive ends we have,” Robinson said. “I’ve seen him knock down a few balls. He brings a good size and he’ll get better.”

Together, the two hope that leads to helping the Colonels turn their season around.

Former high school teammates Marquis Russell (left) and Antonio Robinson were reunited on the Colonels’ football team by sheer coincidence. The two former teammates went their separate ways after high school only to end up together as Colonels. * Photo by KYLE CARRIER