In Coach Todd Cooley's second year in Cleveland, Delta State University went 9-2, won their seventh conference title and made their eighth playoff appearance.

The Statesmen will be looking to do much of the same this year and advance even further into the playoffs. Cooley also won his second consecutive GSC Coach of the Year accolade, while Assistant Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator Joel Williams was named AFCA Assistant Coach of the Year for Division II.

They return 17 starters and 60 letterman to the talented DSU roster and signed 16 transfers in the spring to fill a few perceived needs including 13 players from community colleges. One key pickup in the off-season was wide receiver Darius Powell, a transfer from UAB. He played in 28 games for the Blazers as a receiver and defensive back compiling 224 receiving yards and two touchdowns along with 18 tackles on defense.

On offense, DSU will be led by returning Harlon Hill finalist Tyler Sullivan at quarterback. He is 13-3 as the starter for the Statesmen and has 5,122 passing yards to rank fifth on the career list there, has completed 268-of-420 passes (with only 15 interceptions) and has averaged 305.3 yards passing per game while on the Mississippi Delta. His 3,358 passing yards and 3,566 total offensive yards rank fifth on the DSU single season lists and he was responsible for 35 of DSU's 66 touchdowns in 2014.

Sullivan will be joined by All-GSC and All-South Region receiver Casey Osborne, and All-GSC second team players, receiver Justin Leavy and lineman Mose Countryman. Osborne led the team with 76 receptions for 1,007 yards and nine touchdowns, while averaging 13.2 yards per catch and 91.5 yards per game. Leavy caught 31 passes for 482 yards and eight touchdowns, while averaging 15.3 yards per catch and 43.8 yards per game. The running game also returns experience with senior Eddie McCadney, who rushed 107 times for 517 yards and 11 touchdowns. During the regular season, the Statesmen lead the GSC in scoring (46.4 pts./gm.), total offense (500.2 yds./gm.) and passing (337.1 ids./gm.). Nationally, they ranked third in scoring, eighth in passing and 11th in total offense during the regular season.

The defense also has recognized talent returning with All-GSC players senior defensive back Richard Nash, senior lineman Randall Boyd, junior linebacker Wilson Curtis and sophomore safety Trey Shaw, who was named GSC Freshman Defensive Player of the Year, along with All-GSC second team junior defensive back Romelo Wilson, who had 30 tackles and 4 interceptions in 2014. Shaw had 29 tackles, two interceptions and two forced fumbles. During the regular season the Statesmen led the GSC in rush defense (120.2 yds./gm.), red zone defense (59.4 percent), tackles for loss (13.0/gm.) and was second in sacks (3.10/gm.). Nationally, they ranked first in tackles for loss and were seventh in sacks and turnovers gained during the regular season.

Statesmen special teams also have experience returning with All-GSC second team (2013) kicker, junior Vince Sciorrotta. He was 11-of-14 field goals in 2014, including making his last nine attempts, and connected on a career-long field goal of 47 yards against Central State along with making 60-of-66 PATs for DSU. Sciorrotta ranked fourth in field goals made and second in scoring by kick in the conference. Sophomore Cody Mills, the DSU kickoff specialist last season, also returns this season and will possibly take over the punting duties (as he is the only punter listed on the current roster). Experience on kick returns will probably push Ladarrell Hunt to the top of the list to assume duties on kickoffs and punts, as he averaged 27.8 yards per kick return in 2014.

The Statesmen will host seven D2 games this year and play only four regular season games on the road. They open their season with four non-conference games by hosting two SIAC schools (Fort Valley State and Albany State) and a GMAC team (Kentucky Wesleyan) along with traveling to LSC member Texas A&M - Commerce.

Their nemesis last season was West Georgia, who handed DSU both of their losses in 2014. So, it's a no-brainer that the game in Cleveland on October 17th has been circled on the schedule since that playoff loss to the Wolves. As with any year, other highly competitive conference games for DSU will be the back-to-back contests against North Alabama and Valdosta State. The Statesmen travel to Florence on Halloween before hosting the Blazers for homecoming the following week.

While I feel this season will be a bit unpredictable in the GSC, I see Delta State being right in the mix of earning their second consecutive conference title and playoff appearance. It should be another exciting year of DSU football for Statesmen fans!