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By Jim Gazzolo | JGMedia

It took a few tries, but Jerrell Colbert has found a home.

During the first four years of his college career, the 6-foot-10 forward/center bounced between Power 4 conference programs. 

He started with Will Wade at LSU, then moved to Kansas State for two seasons, then to SMU, looking for consistent playing time. His winding road led Colbert back to a coach he knew, Bill Armstrong.

Colbert was one of the first players Armstrong brought to McNeese last year, reuniting the two from their days at LSU.

“I came because I trusted Coach,” said Colbert. “He recruited me to LSU.”

With the Cowboys, he found the playing time he was searching for, despite an ankle injury that lingered all season.

“I just played through it,” Colbert said, and he started the last 19 games for the Cowboys, playing 31 minutes in their NCAA Tournament loss to Vanderbilt last year.

Colbert finished the season averaging career highs in points (5.6), rebounds (4.1), and minutes (19.1). He also shot 52 percent from the field.

“Jarrell had a really, really good year for us,” said Armstrong. “I think he was the best big man in the league. I don’t think he gets the credit for that. I think he will be the best big man this year.”

Yet in the summer, Colbert wasn’t sure he would be back at McNeese. He had sat out his first season at Kansas State with an injury, so he had to appeal to the NCAA for a sixth season.

He wasn’t cleared until recently.

“That was a big relief,” Colbert said. “It is truly a real blessing. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do.”

Now he is healthy and ready to go.

“I feel better than ever,” said Colbert. “I feel strong and fit.”

When feeling good, Colbert was a force last year. He had back-to-back double-doubles, then followed those with a career-high 17 points on Feb. 7 against Incarnate Word.

In the Cowboys’ 63-60 exhibition loss to LSU earlier this month, Colbert finished with six points and four rebounds, impressing his old, old coach.

“It was great to see how far Jarrell has come since his days with us at LSU,” Tiger head coach Will Wade said. Wade coached Colbert during his freshman season in Baton Rouge.

“He has worked so hard on his game. To see how he has improved and played tonight is something special.”

Colbert’s biggest job this year may be off the court; as one of the program’s veterans, he must help set the standard for the newcomers.

“I have been working on that, leadership,” said Colbert. 

Despite being soft-spoken, others should hear his experience.