BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Delta State University Football team holds nine spots on the 2026 Preseason All-Gulf South Conference Football Team, voted on by the league's head coaches. The Statesmen hold three spots on the offensive side of the ball, four on the defensive side, and two special teams players.
On the offensive end, running back
Nick Clark, tight end
Carter Coullard, and receiver
Lawrence Armstrong earned honors while defensive ends
Chris Brown,
Maliek Robertson, and linebackers
Tavian Moore, and
Austin Collins earned defensive honors. On special teams, punter
Price Nixon and long snapper
Brandin Talley earned honors.
Clark, earning preseason All-GSC honors as a Running Back, was the leading rusher on the Statesmen in the 2025 season. The Daphne, Ala., native led the Statesmen with 531 rushing yards on 130 attempts and led the GSC with 11 rushing TDs in the 2025 season. Clark earned first team All-GSC All-Purpose back and second team All-GSC running back honors in 2025. Clark also hauled in 11 receptions for 82 yards and a TD last season.
Coullard, a preseason All-GSC tight end, started in nine games for the Statesmen as a dual threat tight end in the 2025 season. The Lake Providence, La., native helped the Statesmen rush for 1,650 yards as a team while hauling in seven catches for 73 yards and two touchdowns. Earning second team All-GSC honors in 2025, Coullard hauled in the first receiving TD of the season against Central Missouri and the final receiving TD of the season against Valdosta State.
Armstrong was one of the three threats in the air for the Statesmen in 2025. The Houston, Texas native hauled in 21 catches for 426 yards and three touchdowns. Armstrong earned GSC Offensive Player of the Week Honors in 2025 after hauling in two receptions for 108 yards and two TDs in DSU's 41-38 win on the road at West Alabama. LA earned second team All-GSC honors in the 2025 season.
Brown is one of several returners on the Statesmen defensive line in the 2026 season. The Jackson native had 18 tackles (10 solo) with 3.5 TFLs and 2.5 sacks. Brown had two QB hurries in 2025 season along with a pass breakup against West Alabama.
Robertson is another returner on the Statesmen defensive line this season. The Donaldsonville, La., native had 20 tackles last season (8 Solo), two TFLs and a sack in nine games played for DSU in the 2025 season. Robertson was a part of a Statesmen defense that was the best scoring defense in the GSC
Moore is the top returning tackler for the Statesmen from the 2025 season. The Huntsville native earned first team All-GSC honors as a Special Teams Utility in the 2025 season after playing in all 10 games for DSU totaling 51 tackles (26 solo) had six TFLs along with an interception and a forced fumble. Moore earned GSC defensive player of the week after a 13-tackle performance and an interception in DSU's 41-38 win at West Alabama.
Collins is making a transition from defensive line to linebacker for the 2026 season. Collins had a solid season on the defensive line for DSU in the 2025 season. The Memphis native led the Green and White with nine TFLs on the season. Collins had 21 tackles (12 solo) two sacks and a scoop and score for the Statesmen against West Florida. Collins also had a sack for a safety against Barton on the road last season.
Nixon returns to the Statesmen special teams unit for the 2026 season. The Clinton native earned second team All-GSC honors as a punter and a special teams utility after starting in all 10 games as the punter and the kickoff specialist. Nixon had 39 punts for 1,487 yards while putting opposing teams inside their 20 18 times and four punts going over 50 yards. As a kickoff specialist, Nixon had 19 touchbacks and 3,724 total yards in the 2025 season.
Talley returns as DSU's long snapper for the 2026 season. The Biloxi native started in nine games as the team's long snapper, mostly on the punt team where he had a tackle in coverage in DSU's 41-9 win against North Greenville.
The Statesmen kick off their fall camp today and open the season in 24 days as they'll head to Tahlequah, Okla., to take on the Riverhawks from Northeastern State University. That game will kick off at noon. For more updates on the Statesmen football team, follow Delta State athletics on social media or on our website at gostatesmen.com.
