BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The University of West Florida led the way on the 2021 GSC Coaches Football Preseason Poll and Preseason All-GSC Team. 

West Florida was named the 2021 GSC Football Preseason Favorite for the first time in school history, collecting 47 points behind five first-place votes. Nipping at the Argonauts' heels is defending GSC Champion Valdosta State which posted 45 points and nabbed the final three first-place votes. 

The rivals are accustomed to close outcomes after splitting a pair of matchups in 2019. VSU topped UWF at home during the regular season only to see the Argonauts upset the Blazers in the South Region Title game, scoring the go-ahead points with just six seconds remaining. 

Sophomore quarterback Austin Reed leads the list of 10 West Florida standouts on the All-GSC Pre-Season Team. Reed set a NCAA Championship Game record for passing yards and touchdown passes in the Argos 48-40 win over Minnesota State.   

Valdosta State also has plenty of returning standouts in 2021, posting nine on the Pre-Season Team. VSU's new signal caller will have some impressive weapons at his disposal.  Returning from the 2019 First Team are running backs Jamar Thompkins and Seth McGill and wideouts Brian Saunds and Lio'undre Gallimore. 

Delta State ranked third in the Coaches' Poll voting with 33 points. Six DSU players advance to the Pre-Season Team led by three-time All-GSC center Innis Claud who will block for one of the league's top returning backs, Rico Owens.   

West Alabama (30) and West Georgia (26) round out the Top Five. UWA's two Pre-Season Team members are on offense in wide receiver Tyriz Martin and offensive guard Joe Oliver. UWG features the league's top returner placekicker as Omar Cervantes represents the Wolves on the Pre-Season squad.   

Mississippi College (22), North Greenville (14) and Shorter (seven) complete the GSC Pre-Season Poll. Linebacker Jonahtan Jones and defensive lineman Fred Walls anchors MC's defense. NGU's Seth Dover and SU punter Nicholas Pope are Special Teams members of the Pre-Season squad.  

• Owens earned Second Team All-GSC honors in 2019 and was named to the Fall Academic Honor Roll
• He played in nine games for the Statesmen, and led the team with 97 carries for 631 yards and eight touchdowns
• Ranked second in the GSC rushing for 70.1 yards per game and 6.5 yards per carry, and ranked sixth in touchdowns in the GSC
• Part of a thunder and lightning combination in the backfield with Copiah-Lincoln transfer Deion Dampier as the two combined to rush for 1,204 yards and 10 touchdowns
• The Statesmen offense ranked third in the GSC averaging 197.9 yards per game rushing

• Started 10 games on the offensive lineman and helped lead the Statesmen finish 6-4 overall and 5-3 in the GSC
• Named to the 2019 GSC Fall Academic Honor Roll
• Part of a Statesmen offense that ranked third in the GSC with 197.9 yards per game rushing, 159.5 yards passing per game, 357.4 total yards and 22.8 points per game
• Key cog on the offensive line that also paved the way for Rico Owens to rank second in the GSC with 70.1 rushing yards per game and 6.51 yards per carry

• The three-time All-GSC center helped lead a Statesman offense that ranked third in the GSC with 197.9 yards per game rushing and totaled 159.5 yards passing per game, 357.4 total yards and 22.8 points per game
• Earned GSC Academic Honor Roll accolades and was named to the Don Hansen's Football Gazette All-Super Region II team on the offensive line
• Led an offensive line that paved the way for Rico Owens to rank second in the GSC with 70.1 rushing yards per game and average 6.51 yards per carry

• Samuel, a Second Team All-GSC selection along the defensive line in 2019 for the Statesmen, tied for second in the GSC in tackles for loss per game and ranked fourth in sacks per game for DSU
• Samuel notched 26 tackles, 18 solo stops, with 12.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks
• Samuel helped lead a Statesmen defense that led the GSC in total defense (309.2 ypg.), rush defense (122.0 ypg.) and sacks per game (2.70)

• Williams, a 2019 Fall Academic Honor Roll recipient, played in all 10 games for the Statesmen and helped the squad to a 6-4 record
• Recorded 49 total tackles, 36 solo tackles, and had six stops behind the line of scrimmage for 21 yards in losses
• Helped lead a Statesmen defense that led the GSC in total defense (309.2 ypg.), rush defense (122.0 ypg.) and sacks per game (2.70)
• Has accumulated 130 total tackles in 33 games for the Statesmen

• Faulk, a 2019 First Team All-GSC selection, was also a C Spire Conerly Trophy Finalist for the Statesmen after he led the GSC and the NCAA in interceptions (9) and passes defended per game (2.2)
• Faulk was named an AFCA All-American (First-Team), D2Football.com All-American team and All-Region (First-Team) selection
• Selected Don Hansen Football Gazette All-American and All-Region (Honorable Mention)
• Recorded 37 tackles, 32 solo stops, with a fumble forced and a fumble recovery
• Had 131 yards on nine interception returns
• Helped lead a Statesmen defense that led the GSC in total defense (309.2 ypg.), rush defense (122.0 ypg.) and sacks per game (2.70)

First place votes in parentheses