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Thursday, November 18, 2010

Blazers Earn All-Gulf South Conference Accolades

VALDOSTA, Ga. - Six Valdosta State Blazers have been named to the All-Gulf South Conference football team in a vote of the league coaches as announced by the GSC office on Thursday.

The Blazers placed four players on the All-GSC first squad, led by linebacker Larry Dean, who was also named the league's Defensive Player of the Year. Dean, who was only one of two players to be unanimously voted to the 2010 All-League team, led the GSC with 112 tackles this season, including 7.0 for loss. He also intercepted one pass, which he returned for a touchdown, broke up three passes and returned a fumble for a touchdown. Dean became the VSU and GSC career tackles record holder during the season and currently stands with 358 in his career. Dean became the sixth VSU player to win GSC Defensive Player of the Year accolades and the first since 2002.

Dean was joined on the first team All-GSC defensive squad by defensive tackle Demario Jones and cornerback Stevie Harden. Harden tied a NCAA record with four interception returns for touchdowns during the season as he tallied eight interceptions and 229 return yards on the year. He also returned a fumble for a touchdown while registering 29 tackles and eight passes broken up. Meanwhile, Jones registered 23 tackles and 5.5 tackles for loss while breaking up one pass.

Ronnye Nelson was VSU's lone representative to the first team squad on the offensive side of the ball as he earned the recognition as an all-purpose back. Nelson rushed for 345 yards and a team-high four touchdowns during the season while also catching a team-best 29 passes for 280 yards and another score. He also threw a 15-yard touchdown pass while averaging 7.3 yards per punt return and 21.5 yards on kick-off returns.

Safety Dudley Spence was named to the second team All-Defensive squad as he finished the year with 68 tackles, two interceptions, four passes broken up and four fumbles forced. Meanwhile, Jack Fulford was named the second team All-GSC punter after averaging 41.5 yards per punt on the season. Fulford punted the ball more than 50 yards 15 times on the season and saw 24 of his 61 punts land inside the opponent's 20 yard line, including seven inside the opponent's 5.

The Blazer's success on the field also led to VSU head coach David Dean being named co-Coach of the Year. In his fourth season with the Blazers, Dean led Valdosta State to its first Gulf South Conference championship since the 2004 season.

The Blazers continue their 2010 season on Saturday, November 20 when they host North Alabama at 1:00 p.m. in Bazemore-Hyder Stadium in the first round of the NCAA Division II Playoffs.

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