GSC Announces 2010 All-Conference Football Team

UNA, OBU LEAD ALL-GSC FOOTBALL TEAM

Birmingham, AL—North Alabama and Ouachita Baptist lead the way on the 2010 All-Gulf South Conference Football Team, landing 11 and 10 total players, respectively.
              
UNA also topped the First Team list with six honorees, while OBU followed with five. The Lions and Tigers completed their post-season honors as each placed five on the Second Team.
              
Harding was third overall, placing nine led by five First Teamers.  Delta State (three First Team) and Henderson State (three First Team) added eight players apiece (four First Team), followed by six overall honorees by Valdosta State (four First Team) and West Alabama (three First Team).   Arkansas-Monticello placed five overall, headlined by four First Teamers.  Arkansas Tech (two First Team) and West Georgia tied with four overall, while Southern Arkansas rounded out the list with two on the First Team and one Second Teamer.

HARDESTY IS HSU’S FIRST-EVR GSC OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
              
Quarterback Nick Hardesty made school history, becoming the first-ever Reddie to be named the GSC Offensive Player of the Year since HSU joined the league in 1993.  He is also the eighth straight quarterback to take home the honor.
              
Hardesty put together an impressive senior campaign, leading the Conference in passing (4,007 yards), passing touchdowns (30) and total offense (4,187).  The Salina, KS native became just the sixth player in league history to surpass the 4,000-yard mark in a season and his total offense mark was the third most.  Hardesty is a four-time GSC Player of the Week and he is a candidate for the Harlon Hill Trophy.

VSU’S DEAN CHOSEN AS GSC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
              
Valdosta State linebacker Larry Dean used a record-setting season to garner the GSC Defensive Player of the Year award.  The senior is the first VSU player to claim the accolade since 2002 and is the sixth overall Blazer to hoist the trophy.  He is also the sixth consecutive linebacker to win the honor.
              
Dean enters this weekend’s NCAA Playoffs as the GSC’s all-time leading tackler (358) after overtaking Delta State linebacker Lardester Hicks-Green who set the mark last season.  The Tifton, GA native leads all GSC tacklers with 112 total stops (44 solos) in 10 games so far this season and he also places seventh in the NCAA rankings.