Big help rising

Published 11:07 am Thursday, December 25, 2025

Colbert’s game is on schedule

Before the season, Cowboy head coach Bill Armstrong said that he couldn’t wait for Christmas because that’s when Jarrell Colbert would be his old self.

It’s Christmas, and Colbert looks back.

Maybe not completely, but the 6-foot-10, 235-pounder is indeed rounding into shape. And it’s the perfect time for McNeese State.

As the 10-2 Cowboys prepare for their biggest test of the season, a trip to undefeated and second-ranked Michigan, they will need all their pieces, especially the big guys.

Colbert is their biggest guy.

“Jerrell is going to be a big part of our team once he gets fully healthy,” Armstrong said. “We recruited him here to be our starting center and give us a large presence inside on both offense and defense.”

A knee injury kept the SMU transfer from starting fast, which also slowed his time on the floor with his teammates.

“It’s not only him getting back on the court, but it was the other guys learning how to play with him,” said Armstrong. “That all takes time. You need to have time both in games and in practice before it all comes together.”

Patience and change have been a part of Colbert’s college career. McNeese is his fourth school in as many years, but he also knows it’s his last.

“This is it for me,” said Colbert. “I want to make the most of it. I am super comfortable here. This is the most comfortable place I have ever been in.”

Colbert’s journey began at LSU during the 2021-22 season, with former McNeese coach Will Wade leading the program. However, it’s his relationship with Armstrong, an assistant on that team, which has lasted.

“The main reason I’m here is because of Bill,” said Colbert. “I love playing for him. I was close to him at LSU and stayed close.”

Colbert was at LSU when both Armstrong and Wade were fired as part of a recruiting scandal. That was an eye-opener for the forward/center.

“It was a lesson we learned,” said Colbert. “I saw the tough side of the game. I’ve learned a lot at every school I’ve gone to. You have to learn no matter where you are.”

After LSU, where he played in just four games, Colbert moved on to Kansas State and then SMU, playing in 64 games the last two seasons. When Armstrong got the job replacing Wade, Colbert jumped at the chance to be on his first team as a head coach.

“When he contacted me, I knew it was a place I had to look at,” said Colbert. “I wanted to be a part of his first team.”

For Armstrong, a defense-first coach, getting the big man was key to his first recruiting class.

“Adding Jerrell to our roster ensures we can play the game the way we envision,” said Armstrong. “He embodies everything we value in a post player—a rare combination of athleticism, length, and speed that will have an immediate impact on both ends of the floor. 

“As a true rim protector, he’ll elevate our defense and enhance our pressure schemes. Offensively, his speed is a major asset, enabling us to consistently attack in transition and keep pressure on the rim.”

Hampered by a knee injury, Colbert has seen his minutes limited, starting just four of the first 12 games. Those minutes, though, are increasing as he gets healthy and learns his role.

Colbert has played 28 minutes in two of the last three Cowboy games, all wins. He is averaging career-highs in points (6) and rebounds (3.2) per game while shooting 69 percent from the field.

Colbert’s last game was his best, as he played 28 minutes and scored 12 points while grabbing a season-high seven rebounds as McNeese beat Houston Christian, 78-68, before their holiday break. 

He made five of his six shots from the field and both his free throws. Colbert has also been able to stay out of foul trouble as he gets healthier. 

“I’m getting into the groove,” Cobert said. “We are all definitely starting to figure things out.” 

Colbert was the second big signing for Armstrong back in the spring, following forward Jacolb Fredson-Cole, who came from Oklahoma.

“I have known Cole for a long time, and I think the more we play together, the better we will be on the inside,” said Colbert.

That’s what Armstrong has been saying, and what Cowboy fans have been hoping for, since the season began.