Florida Tech Picked To Finish Fifth In Gulf South Conference Football Preseason Poll
By Florida Tech // August 10, 2019
First Game: @ Savannah State on Sept. 7
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Florida Tech has been picked fifth in the 2019 Gulf South Conference Football Preseason Poll, announced by the GSC office on Thursday.
Defending NCAA Champion Valdosta State was unanimously voted the league favorite heading into the 2019 season. The Blazers earned eight first-place votes in the poll. 2018 GSC runner-up West Georgia garnered the No. 2 spot in the preseason ranking, while West Alabama and West Florida round out the top-4.
Florida Tech comes in at fifth in the poll after finishing in a tie for third in the 2018 final conference standings, while Delta State, North Greenville, Mississippi College and Shorter fill in spots 6 through 9 in the preseason poll.
The Panthers had major turnover following the 2018 season as the team lost key starters in Antwuan Haynes, Romell Guerrier, Adonis Davis, and 2018 GSC Defensive Player of the Year J.T. Hassell, who is currently in training camp with the Cleveland Browns.
However, Tech does return starting quarterback Trent Chmelik who threw 21 touchdowns in 2018 as well as weapons on the outside in wide receivers Damien McGhee and Brian Spurgeon, Jr. On the defensive end, the Panthers will look to lean on returning starters Evan Thompson at linebacker and safeties Daniel Welch and John McClure. McClure was selected as the Crimson & Gray’s lone representative on the 2019 Preseason All-GSC team.
McClure played in all 12 games during the 2018 season and finished fourth on the team with 48 tackles. Last year, the St. Louis, Missouri product set a school record and was tied for second in the GSC with four interceptions. McClure returned one of the picks for a touchdown while also recording four pass breakups, one fumble recovery and one block during the season.
The Crimson & Gray are set to open fall camp on Friday, Aug. 9, at 8 a.m. All practices will take place at Varsity Training Center Field located at the Olin Sports Complex on Florida Tech’s campus.
The Panthers will kick off the 2019 season on the road at Savannah State on Saturday, Sept. 7. Start time for the opener is 6 p.m.
The following is the entire 2019 GSC Preseason Football Poll. The entire preseason All-GSC team can be found at www.gscsports.org.
SCHOOL (1st Place Votes) | TOTAL POINTS
1. Valdosta State (8) 64
2. West Georgia 55
3. West Alabama 49
4. West Florida (1) 44
5. Florida Tech 37
6. Delta State 28
7. North Greenville 24
8. Mississippi College 15
9. Shorter 8
For the latest news, updates and information on the Florida Tech football team, visit FloridaTechSports.com.
CLICK HERE FOR BREVARD COUNTY NEWS
