Florida Tech Picked Fourth In GSC Preseason Poll, Four Panthers Named To Preseason All-GSC Team
By Daniel Supraner, Director of Athletic Communications // August 4, 2017
Gulf South Conference Coaches Poll
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – With the start of the 2017 football season less than a month away, the Gulf South Conference has announced its 2017 Preseason Coaches Poll.
The GSC’s head coaches selected Florida Tech fourth in the preseason poll with the Panthers claiming 47 points.
North Alabama, the four-time reigning conference champions and last year’s national runner-up, were picked as the GSC preseason favorites with 62 points and seven first place votes.
Valdosta State is slated second with 54 points and one first place vote. West Georgia sits in third with 49 points and the last remaining first place vote, while West Alabama rounds out the top five spots, claiming fifth with 32 points.
In sixth and seventh are Delta State and West Florida with 31 and 25 points, respectively. Mississippi College is eighth in the poll with 16 points, while Shorter sits in ninth with eight points.
Additionally, the GSC announced its preseason all-conference team, with FIT boasting four selections.
Two Panthers on the offensive side of the ball were recognized in running back Antwuan Haynes and quarterback Mark Cato.
Haynes was named to the All-GSC First Team in 2016 after leading the league in rushing yards (1,076) and all-purpose yards (1,783) to go along with 12 total touchdowns. Cato led the GSC in passing efficiency in 2016 (152.2), while racking up 2,263 passing yards, 455 rushing yards and 28 total touchdowns.
On the defensive side, FIT is represented by defensive lineman Adonis Davis and defensive back Jo Jackson.
Davis was a First Team All-GSC selection in 2016, following a season in which he notched 35 total tackles and ranked in the Top-5 in the conference in forced fumbles (3), sacks (6.5) and tackles for loss (15.0). Jackson was a formidable force in the Panthers’ defensive backfield last year, recording 35 tackles, three interceptions, 16 passes defended and 13 pass breakups.
The GSC Preseason Coaches’ Poll and Preseason All-GSC Team were voted on by the league’s head coaches. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their team or their own players.
2017 FOOTBALL PRESEASON POLL
| School | Total Points |
| 1. North Alabama (7) | 62 |
| 2. Valdosta State (1) | 54 |
| 3. West Georgia (1) | 49 |
| 4. Florida Tech | 47 |
| 5. West Alabama | 32 |
| 6. Delta State | 31 |
| 7. West Florida | 25 |
| 8. Mississippi College | 16 |
| 9. Shorter | 8 |
NOTES: The head coaches voted in this poll. Teams received 8 points for a first place vote, 7 for a second place vote, etc. The head coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams. Number of first place votes in parenthesis.
2017 FOOTBALL PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE: OFFENSE
| Pos. | Name | School | Year | Hometown |
| QB | Mark Cato | Florida Tech | Sr. | Gainesville, Fla. |
| QB | Adam Robles | Valdosta State | Jr. | Ocala, Fla. |
| RB | Antwuan Haynes* | Florida Tech | Jr. | Fort Lauderdale, Fla. |
| RB | Chris Robinson* | Delta State | Sr. | Bude, Miss. |
| WR | Donta Armstrong* | West Alabama | Sr. | Pittsboro, Miss. |
| WR | Dre Hall** | North Alabama | Sr. | Columbia, Tenn. |
| TE | Arik Washington | Mississippi College | Jr. | York, Ala. |
| AP | Devontae Jackson^* | West Georgia | Jr. | Marietta, Ga. |
| T | Josh Adams | Valdosta State | Sr. | Kennesaw, Ga. |
| T | Derrick McClelland | Delta State | Sr. | Meridian, Miss. |
| G | Brandon Kemp* | Valdosta State | So. | Stone Mountain, Ga. |
| G | Quentin Stanford* | West Georgia | Jr. | Warner Robins, Ga. |
| C | Harley Vaughan*^ | West Georgia | Sr. | Dawsonville, Ga. |
2017 FOOTBALL PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE: DEFENSE
| Pos. | Name | School | Year | Hometown |
| DL | Adonis Davis* | Florida Tech | Jr. | Columbus, Ohio |
| DL | Darius Ellis* | West Alabama | Jr. | Northport, Ala. |
| DL | Eddquerion Harris^ | North Alabama | Jr. | Courtland, Ala. |
| DL | Freddie Reed^^ | North Alabama | Sr. | West Point, Miss. |
| LB | Reggie Barnes | West Florida | Sr. | Odessa, Fla. |
| LB | Andre Duncombe^ | West Florida | So. | Miami, Fla. |
| LB | Chandler Ector | Delta State | Jr. | Decatur, Ga. |
| LB | Terry Samuel | West Alabama | Jr. | Brewton, Ala. |
| LB | Malik Slater | Valdosta State | So. | Tallahassee, Fla. |
| DB | Jo Jackson | Florida Tech | Sr. | Aldie, Va. |
| DB | Chris Manning | Mississippi College | Sr. | Section, Ala. |
| DB | Dorsey Norris | North Alabama | Sr. | Honolulu, Hawaii |
| DB | Brandon Roe | Valdosta State | Sr. | Douglas, Ga. |
| DB | Jakyron Young^ | West Georgia | Jr. | Ocilla, Ga. |
2017 FOOTBALL PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE: SPECIAL TEAMS
| Pos. | Name | School | Year | Hometown |
| PK | Jordan Bennett^ | West Alabama | Jr. | Tallahassee, Fla. |
| P | Matthew Turcotte^ | Mississippi College | Sr. | Philadelphia, Miss. |
| RS | Antoine Griffin | West Florida | Jr. | Tampa, Fla. |
| RS | LaDarion Peterson | Delta State | Sr. | Woodville, Miss. |
| BT | Wil Lovelace*^ | North Alabama | Sr. | Florence, Ala. |
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