West Alabama Tops GSC Football Preseason Poll
PRESEASON ALL-GSC TEAM | TOP NEWCOMERS | COMPOSITE SCHEDULE (PDF)
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Gulf South Conference football coaches have selected the defending league champions from West Alabama as the conference favorites in the 2018 preseason poll.
UWA returns several key players from the top offense in the league last season, including First Team All-GSC quarterback Harry Satterwhite. Qua Boyd, who finished fifth in the conference in receiving yards in 2017, returns as a key weapon for Satterwhite, and First Team All-GSC selection Brandon Anderson returns to the offensive line for the Tigers. The defending league champions lost a lot of talent in their secondary, but return the 2017 GSC Defensive Player of the Year in linebacker Terry Samuel.
West Alabama received six first place votes in the poll, while the other three first place votes went to the team who took down the Tigers in the NCAA Quarterfinals: West Florida.
The Argonauts are fresh off of a remarkable run in the NCAA Playoffs, advancing to the NCAA Championship Game in just the program’s second year. UWF’s offense should continue to grow with the reigning GSC Offensive Freshman of the Year Mike Beaudry returning at quarterback. He’ll have plenty of weapons to work with as receivers Antoine Griffin and Ishmel Morrow were both named Preseason All-GSC.
West Georgia is third in the poll, while Delta State is fourth. Both the Wolves and the Statesmen earned playoff wins last season.
The Wolves had the second best scoring offense in the league in 2017 and return both starting quarterback Willie Candler and the 2017 GSC Offensive Player of the Year Devontae Jackson.
DSU topped the league in rushing offense and rushing defense last season. The Statesmen will have to replace Chris Robinson in the backfield, but two members of the Delta State front seven (Tramond Lofton and Ovenson Cledanord) were named Preseason All-GSC.
Valdosta State was voted fifth in the poll, followed by Florida Tech, and GSC newcomer North Greenville. All three of these teams were in the NCAA Playoffs in 2016. VSU returns quarterback Rogan Wells after an impressive freshman season. The Panthers return two stars in running back Antwuan Haynes and defensive lineman Adonis Davis. Both Haynes and Davis are two-time First Team All-GSC selections. The Crusaders will have Will Hunter starting under center for the third straight year. Hunter has thrown for more than 2,000 yards in each of the last two seasons.
Mississippi College and Shorter round out the poll. The Choctaws return Tiberias Lampkin in backfield; Lampkin finished fifth in the league in rushing last season. SU will have a fresh look on the sideline with new head coach Zach Morrison, but the dynamic quarterback/wide receiver combination of Tyler Pullum and Lewis Hayes returns for the Hawks.
The complete Preseason All-GSC Team, as well as a list of top newcomers for each squad and a printable composite schedule, can be found at the top of the page. The 2018 season will kick off on Thursday, August 30 with six GSC teams in action.
2018 FOOTBALL PRESEASON POLL
| School |
Total Points |
| 1. West Alabama (6) |
62 |
| 2. West Florida (3) |
59 |
| 3. West Georgia |
44 |
| 4. Delta State |
41 |
| 5. Valdosta State |
38 |
| 6. Florida Tech |
32 |
| 7. North Greenville |
24 |
| 8. Mississippi College |
16 |
| 9. Shorter |
8 |
NOTES: The head coaches voted in this poll. Teams received 8 points for a first place vote, 7 for a second place vote, etc. The head coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams. Number of first place votes in parenthesis.