Preseason GSC Thoughts

Some quick hitters based on my opponent research and GSC media day

Strong QB Crop

The GSC might be replacing the statistical top two QBs from 2022, UWG’s Harrison Frost and Valdosta State’s Ivory Durham, but the crop of returning starters is a very strong group. Both Shorter (Harold Cook) and Mississippi College (DeAnte Smith-Moore) return starters as does GSC newcomer Chowan (Rashad McKee), but the group of returning starters from UWF, West Alabama, North Greenville, and Delta State might be the best of any D2 conference in America. The foursome of Peewee Jarrett, Tucker Melton, Dylan Ramirez, and Patrick Shegog averaged 333 attempts last year and threw 54 TDs against GSC opponents. The group is lead by the reigning OPOY, Shegog, a true dual threat with 22 TD and 65% passing along with 17 more rushing TD. We all know what Peewee can do, with his conference leading 33 passing TD on 8.5 yards per attempt and an additional 9 rushing TDs, and he is looking for a year two bump with the new coaching staff. North Greenville’s Dylan Ramirez arguably should have been the Freshman OPOY with 230 yards per game and 18 TD to 9 INT. West Alabama’s Melton is also looking for a year two bump. A former 3* Bowling Green signee in the class of 2020, he finished year 1 in Livingston with 2100 yards passing and returns his top four pass catchers for 2023.

Deep Year for Defense, Especially Linebacker

Every team in the GSC has multiple All-Conference hopefuls in the preseason, and Delta State and West Alabama look to have high quality players at all three levels returning. The defensive backfields are very strong across the conference with returning high level contributors. The DL groups include a number of physical freaks and both home grown and transfer players who will be among the best in the Region for 2023. However, to me the position that sticks out the most is the LB groups across the conference. Lead by UWF’s own Will Breland and Willie Jordan, there is just a ton of returning talent. North Greenville has their own stud twosome of De’Iveon Donald and Dantevian Byrd (combined 179 tackles 11 TFL 3 INT 5 PBU 13 hurries 2 forced fumbles) as does UWG with Keondre Williams and Xavier Robinson (combined 93 tackles 16 TFL). Another two players who stood out were UWA’s Trevon Stanford (63 tackles 9.5 TFL) and Devon Lane of Shorter (72 tackles 2.0 TFL 2 INT 7 PBU).

OL Questions Abound

This year should be an interesting year for Offensive Line play all around the GSC. Only UWF and shorter both starting tackles from the end of 2022 and are in very different situations still. West Florida returns two experienced vets in their final years of eligibility, while Shorter brings back two players who saw their first major action on 2022. On the other hand, three of the best OL units in the GSC in ‘22, UWG, Delta State, and Valdosta State are replacing both bookend starters. It isn’t all inexperience, it should be a strong year for interior OL play, however only Shorter brings back more than three starters overall. There are just two returning 1st Team All-GSC Offensive Linemen, UWF’s Jacob Bruce and Delta State’s Keshawn Jennings.

What Part Will Transfers Play?

While I have been able to piece together West Florida’s transfer class, it would take a ton of time to discern the portal activity of the remaining 8 GSC teams. UWF was probably on the high end with 19 transfers in, but those transfers appear primed to make major contributions this season. If that is any indication of what the rest of the conference did, and if history is any indicator, we will probably see quite a few high contributing transfers around the GSC this season. There is another angle to this as well, who all was lost to the transfer portal from last year? Because most rosters haven’t been finalized and published yet, it is hard to say but this is going to be a major storyline this season, and likely every season going forward in such a strong D2 conference.

Sleeper Teams

North Greenville:

2022 Record 4-7 (3-5)

Of their seven losses last year, they incurred a FCS loss to Citadel and three more by a single score. Each of those losses came against teams with 8 or more wins, a very good Newberry team by 7 early in the season, at UWF by a FG, and versus UWG by 7 in the final week of the season. There is a lot of optimism from the returning roster including a great young QB who could have been the GSC Freshman OPOY last season, arguably the best RB in conference Corey Watkins a 1000 yard rusher last season, plus an All-GSC Guard. On defense the Crusaders bring back a good LB group lead by an high level D2 MIKE De’Iveon Donald, Kendrick Clark (2022 Freshman DPOY) one of the better young defenders in the conference at Corner, and a breakout candidate pass rusher in Curtis Ryans (7.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks, 3 PBU, 3 hurries).

West Alabama:

2022 Record 5-6 (3-5)

West Alabama was really on the precipice last year with all six losses coming by a combined 55 points (9.2 average differential). Their “worst” loss came by 15 points to an excellent UWG squad, and the Tigers lost two games by a FG or less. Much like NGU they return a lot to be excited about. On offense their starting QB plus top 4 pass catchers return including a top GSC TE, Caeleb Bass, should bring a lot of continuity, along with a good returning pair of RBs in Bry Webb and Antionio Brown (1173 yards combined in 2022). They should also build on one of the best defenses in the conference which finished 2022 1st in the GSC for yards allowed per game, total TDs allowed, and defensive 3rd down %, and 2nd in sacks per game. They return arguably the two top DL in the Gulf South Davonchae Bryant and Jamal Ellis, both All-GSC honorees last year, along with a playmaking WLB Trevon Stanford, and tons of production in DB group highlighted by 1st Team All-GSC Safety Shamar Lewis.

Breakout Candidates

RS-Senior Curtis Ryans, Defensive End, North Greenville:

The former Georgia Tech transfer had a good but not great 2022 campaign, but when you see him on tape he definitely pops off the screen. Listed at 6’6” 250 pounds, which may be a little generous on the weight, he certainly looks long and explosive off of the line. He finished 2022 with 51 tackles 7.5 TFL 2.5 sacks 3 hurries and 3 PBU over 11 games. I think he could be one of the top EDGE players in the conference this fall, his second season in Tigerville.

Senior John Dietl III, Tight End, Shorter:

Dietl was overshadowed last year by Kyle Morlock, now at Florida State, but I think he is going to be a true weapon for the Hawks in his final year of eligibility. Despite being TE2 on his own team, he was among the most productive TEs in the conference last year, finishing his 10 game season with 25 catches for 315 yards and 3 TD. Two of his non-scoring receptions were just feet shy of the goal line, and when you consider Morlock hauled in 30-446-6 in 11 games there wasn’t that much separating them to begin with. Dietl apparently followed up a solid 2022 with a strong spring camp this year.

Attempt at Pre-Season All-GSC Team

Note: For consistencies sake, I stuck with just returning GSC players. UWF players bolded.

Offense

QB Patrick Shegog Delta State

RB Corey Watkins North Greenville

RB Marcus Williams Mississippi College

WR Caden Leggett West Florida

WR BK Smith Valdosta State

WR Terrill Cole West Georgia

WR Darius Nalls West Alabama

TE John Deitl III Shorter

OL Jacob Bruce West Florida

OL David Bodden West Georgia

OL Jaelon Brown Delta State

OL Lewis McBeth North Greenville

OL Keshawn Jennings Delta State

Defense

DL Davonchae Bryant West Alabama

DL Demario Martin Delta State

DL Jamal Ellis West Alabama

DL Aiden Swett West Florida

LB Will Breland West Florida

LB De’Iveon Donald North Greenville

LB Trevon Stanford West Alabama

LB Willie Jordan West Florida

CB Malik Jones Delta State

CB Kendrick Clark North Greenville

S Tyrell Goldsmith Delta State

S Shamar Lewis West Alabama