West Florida Tops GSC Preseason Poll
July 23rd, 2025 1:00pm
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — West Florida was tabbed as the favorite to win the 2025 Gulf South Conference football title, according to the 2025 GSC Football Preseason Poll, as voted by the league’s head coaches.
The Argonauts were unanimously favored collecting all three possible first-place votes and nine total points. UWF finished third in the GSC standings last season, going 5-2 in league play and 7-3 overall.
West Alabama and Valdosta State were tied for second with six points each. After both squads appeared in the NCAA Division II playoffs last season, they will each be under the direction of new head coaches, as Scott Cochran takes over the Tigers, while Graham Craig will lead the Blazers.
Delta State rounded out the poll with three points. The Statesmen were fifth in the 2024 GSC standings with a 3-3 record, while going 6-4 overall.
Points were awarded on a 3-2-1 scale and coaches were unable to vote for their own team.
The GSC Football Media Day presented by Caldwell Architects will take place Wednesday, July 23. Coverage will be live streamed for free and on-demand exclusively on FloCollege, beginning at 1:30 pm CT.
2025 GSC Football Coaches’ Preseason Poll
First-place votes ( )
1. West Florida (3) – 9 pts
t2. West Alabama (1) – 6 pts
t2. Valdosta State – 6 pts
4. Delta State – 3 pts
The 2025 Gulf South Conference football preseason all-conference squad, as chosen by the league’s head coaches, was announced during the Conference’s annual football media day.
West Florida led the way with a conference-best 14 student-athletes selected. West Alabama followed with seven, Delta State had five, while defending GSC-champion Valdosta State had four names.
The preseason lineup included 12 All-GSC selections from a season ago, including five first team honorees.
Student-athletes were named by their coaches. Coaches then voted for nominees in each position in rank order and were not able to select their own players.
The 2025 GSC football season will begin with all four teams in action during Week 0 as Delta State hosts Central Missouri (Aug. 28), West Florida welcomes Lenoir-Rhyne (Aug. 29), while Valdosta State and West Alabama take part in the Week 0 Classic on Aug. 30 in Birmingham.
2025 GSC Football Preseason Team
QB: Cole Kirk, Delta State
RB: Brayden Jenkins, West Alabama
RB: TJ Lane, West Florida
AP: Jay Sharp, West Florida
WR: Corey Scott, West Florida*
WR: Tyler Ajiero, Valdosta State^
WR: Neno Lemay, Delta State
WR: Dearrius Nelson, West Alabama
WR: Javon Swinton, West Florida
TE: Jake Robinette, West Florida
C: Ben Newton, West Alabama*
G: James Robinson, Valdosta State^
G: Brandon Kirskey, West Alabama
G: Colton Beesley, West Florida
T: Levi Johnson, West Florida
T: Issiah Walker, West Florida
DL: Collin Shaw, West Florida*
DL: Jemarrlowe Sykes, Valdosta State
DL: Bryon Puryear, West Florida
DL: Kevin Roberts, West Florida
LB: William Carter, Delta State^
LB: Walker Robinson, West Florida
LB: Ja’Kobe Clinton, West Florida
LB: Warren Coneway, West Florida^
DB: Issac Williams, West Alabama^
DB: Taylon Doss, Delta State
DB: Rance Conner, Valdsota State^
DB: Jarius McFarland, Delta State
P: Michael Shine, West Florida
K: Elijah Guyton, West Alabama*
RS/UTL: Jay Sharp, West Florida^
UTL: Jaden Taylor, West Alabama*
* 2024 GSC First Team
^ 2024 GSC Second Team
