August 28th, 2024 8:00am
Welcome to another season of Gulf South football!
This year will see a new team in the mix (Erskine) as well as the final season for a few others (Chowan and North Greenville) as the GSC will be going through some “realignment” of its own in the next few years. However, the key programs aren’t going anywhere as West Florida, Delta State and Valdosta State are looking to remain atop the standings while Mississippi College and West Alabama look to make additional noise of their own.
Gulf South Media Day (WATCH)
Gulf South Membership Changes (READ)
Gulf South Preseason All-Conference Teams (READ)
Gulf South Preseason Coaches Poll (READ)
8. Erskine College
2023 Results: 0-11 (0-9 SAC)
Erskine joined the Gulf South ahead of the 2024 season, finding a temporary home for one season before joining Conference Carolinas in 2025 when the league revives football after a 50-year hiatus.
The Flying Fleet brought back their football program in 2020, playing for the first time since 1950. Over the last four seasons, Erskine has won just six games with the last victory coming in September of 2023. For the last two seasons, the program has been a football-only member of the South Atlantic Conference.
Last year, the Erskine offense scored just 10 points per game and had 14 total offensive touchdowns while the defense surrendered 38.6 points and 427.4 yards per game.
Senior punter Dylan Beauford was the team’s lone all-conference performer in 2024 and finished third among NCAA Division II punters in total punting yards (2,697) and 12th in punting average (42.8).
Erskine opens the season on Saturday, Aug. 31 in Greenwood, S.C. against NAIA member Saint Andrews University. The Knights finished last season 0-10 overall.
7. Chowan University
2023 Results: 0-8 (0-5 GSC)
Chowan will also be leaving the Gulf South for Conference Carolinas in 2025 and the change is sure to be a welcome one after going winless in 2024, the team’s first as a GSC member.
A year ago, Chowan was outscored by over 24 points per game on average as the offense struggled with consistency from week-to-week. The defense was the primary weak spot for the Hawks, allowing over 39 points per game, but the unit does get grace for having to face off against the potent offenses within League play.
Paul Johnson has now had a full recruiting cycle to build the team and made a splash this offseason with 17 mid-year transfers among almost 50 new players to the program. In addition to the players on the field, Johnson brought in Tony Gilbert to lead the defense. Gilbert previously spent five years at Mississippi College and has a vast amount of experience within the Gulf South and college football as a whole.
The 2024 football season begins for Chowan on Saturday, Sept. 7 against Elizabeth City State University of the CIAA on the road.
6. Mississippi College
2023 Results: 3-7 (2-6 GSC)
The Choctaws will have a new face leading the program in 2024 as Mike Kershaw officially too the reigns in December 2023. Kershaw comes to Clinton after a successful tenure at Rice University where he was the Wide Receivers Coach for five seasons. He is no stranger to the GSC, having spent time with Delta State in the early-2000s coaching quarterbacks, wide receivers, and safeties while being an integral part in Division II’s top-ranked offense in 2004 and 2006.
Expect the Choctaws to look much different than the run-first, option-heavy team we have all seen in years past on offense, which should provide the spark they need to overcome previous deficits. In 2024, four of the team’s seven losses were by an average of just 7.5 points
Mississippi will lean heavily on three Preseason All-Conference honorees in running back Marcus Williams, defensive back David Brown IV and punter Michael Shine.
Williams starred both in the backfield and as a return specialist, rushing for 851 yards and three scores while also racking up 530 yards on kickoff returns and a touchdown. Brown was the team’s primary playmaker on defense, finishing with 48 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and an interception.
Shine led all of Division II with 43.71 yards per punt last season and placed 15 of his 45 punts inside the 20-yard line.
The Choctaws begin the season on Wednesday, Sept. 4 against former league foe Shorter University in Rome, Ga.
5. North Greenville University
2023 Results: 5-5 (4-4 GSC)
During the offseason, the North Greenville Department of Athletics introduced a new brand identity as the school’s mascot changed from the Crusaders to the Trailblazers. The new look football program is set to leave its mark on the Gulf South during its final season before transitioning to Conference Carolinas for the 2025 season and beyond.
The Trailblazers return a host of key players on both sides of the ball, including EJ Bradford, De’Iveion Donald, Dylan Ramirez, and Dre Williams.
Ramirez is back under center for NGU after an up-and-down 2023 season that saw him throw for 2,258 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. He will need to take the next step forward for his team to keep pace in the League. A Preseason All-Conference honoree, Williams will be the feature target out wide. In just eight games a year ago, the former running back turned wide receiver caught 35 passes for 630 yards and six scores while also returning 5 kickoffs for 193 yards and a score.
North Greenville’s defense will once again be led by Donald,a two-time all-conference honoree and defensive captain. The redshirt-senior has 215 total tackles over the last three seasons, including 4.5 sacks, four fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles. Bradford, a member of the preseason all-conference team, will direct the secondary after collecting 17 pass breakups and two interceptions last season.
If the Trailblazers can protect the quarterback and replace former running back Corey Watkins to establish a run game, North Greenville may just leave the Gulf South on a high note.
NGU kicks off the 2024 slate with a home contest against reigning NAIA Champion Keiser University on Thursday, Sept. 5 in Tigerville, S.C.
4. University of West Alabama
2023 Results: 5-5 (4-4 GSC)
Once again, the West Alabama defense was the star of the show in 2023 after allowing just 19.3 points per game while collecting 73 tackles for loss, 25 sacks, and 12 interceptions.
All-conference team members Davonta Jackson and Trevon Stanford are back for the Tigers’ defense to lead the front seven. Stanford led the unit with 63 total tackles in 2023, to go along with 5.5 tackles for loss and two interceptions, while Jackson had 46 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and 10 quarterback hurries.
The West Alabama offense, one that scored more than 20 points just twice last season, must be more consistent if the team has any hopes of finishing above .500. The Tigers have a few early-season games that, if won, should provide momentum as the team opens the conference slate with back-to-back road games against West Florida and Valdosta State.
The Tigers strap up for the first time this season on Saturday, Aug. 31 against Miles College of the SIAC at 6:00 p.m. CT at home.
3. Delta State University
2023 Results: 10-2 (7-1 GSC)
The Statesmen have won the last two Gulf South Conference titles and are ranked 14th (D2Football.com) and 18th (AFCA Coaches) in the two primary preseason polls. However, DSU enters the season with a few question marks at key positions that have left folks to wonder what 2024 will look like.
Delta State’s biggest hole is at the quarterback position where the team must find a way to replace Patrick Shegog, one of last season’s most exciting players across all divisions. Shegog accounted for 44 total touchdowns (32 passing, 12 rushing) a year ago and was a two-time GSC Offensive Player of the Year. The Statesmen do return their top rusher and top two receivers which will go a long way in helping a new face under center.
Running back Kelvin Smith ran for 875 yards and nine scores last season behind an offensive line that returns three all-conference performers and receiver Jaylen Green scored eight touchdowns among his 28 catches for 479 yards.
Defensively, DSU has leaders at multiple levels as preseason all-conference honorees Mario Martin and Marlon Windham are back in the green and white. Martin was a force last year on the interior line, totaling 23 tackles, six tackles for loss, and four sacks to go along with two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. Windham also had a strong 2023 with 59 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and an interception from his linebacker position.
Kicker Nick Herber, one of the most consistent legs in the nation, is also back for his senior season after converting 29-of-33 field goal attempts over the last two years.
Delta State starts the season on the road against Mars Hill University of the SAC on Thursday, Aug. 29 in Mars Hill, N.C.
2. University of West Florida
2023 Results: 8-4 (6-2 GSC)
West Florida figures to once again challenge for the top spot within the Gulf South Conference and all of Division II, but much of the team’s success will depend on filling holes left at key positions on offense. Despite the questions, UWF is ranked 12th (AFCA Coaches) and 13th (D2Football.com) among the preseason national rankings.
The Argos lost quarterback PeeWee Jarrett, top rusher CJ Wilson, and their top two receivers in John Jiles and Caden Leggett to graduation. However, UWF placed a league-high 10 players on the Preseason All-GSC Team including six players on the defensive side of the ball.
Defensive linemen Traevon Mitchell and Byron Puryear will anchor the trenches for the Argos. Mitchell, a transfer from Chowan, totaled 57 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and six quarterback hurries last year while Puryear had 28 stops, seven tackles for loss, and two sacks a year ago.
Linebackers Will Breland and Ralph Ortiz man the middle after combining for 47 tackles, eight tackles for loss, one sack and three interceptions last season. Ortiz was the 2023 GSC Defensive Freshman of the Year. Two defensive backs, Donovan Barnes and Virgil Lemons, will lead the secondary after accounting for a combined 57 tackles, three interceptions and six pass breakups.
West Florida’s schedule opens on Thursday, Sept. 5 at home against GLVC member McKendree University.
1. Valdosta State University
2023 Results: 12-2 (7-1 GSC)
If you ask the national poll voters, 2024 looks like the year that Valdosta State returns to prominence as they appear at No. 6 (D2Football.com) and No. 7 (AFCA Coaches), in the respective preseason rankings.
The pundits may not be that far off as the Blazers enter year three under head coach Tremaine Jackson with all the right pieces in all the right places.
Quarterback Sammy Edwards headlines the returnees after finishing third overall in last season’s Harlon Hill voting, accounting for 4,223 yards and 34 touchdowns through the air while adding another six scores on the ground. Receiver Rodney Bullard is the top returning receiver, having scored seven touchdowns last season, while running backs Eric Watts (416 yards and four touchdowns) and Bud Chaney (12 touchdowns) are back to do damage behind a veteran offensive line.
Defensively, the Blazers will rely on Tyler Morehead and DeAndrew Clifton among the front seven after the duo combined for 72 tackles, 13 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks last season. In the defensive backfield, Jordan Billups is back after recording nine pass breakups and one interception during his redshirt-sophomore season.
Valdosta State’s season begins on Saturday, August 31 at home against perennial SIAC front-runner Albany State University.
My Week 0 Picks:
No. 14 Delta State over Mars Hill
Erskine over Saint Andrews
West Alabama over Miles
No. 6 Valdosta State over Albany State
*Home team shown in bold