VALDOSTA, Ga. – Valdosta State senior linebacker Jameon Gaskin, redshirt freshman linebacker Akil Lampley and sophomore kicker Estin Thiele were named Gulf South Conference, Defensive, Freshman and Special Teams Players of the Week, respectively, the conference office announced Monday.
 
Gaskin, a native of Douglas, Ga., was all over the field in the No. 2 Blazers' 36-21 victory over Keiser University on Thursday.  He finished the game with nine total tackles for second on the team behind Lampley, while Gaskin had two solo stops, assisted on a tackle for loss, recorded one breakup and two hurries.  He had an interception return for 37 yards in the fourth quarter, setting up a field goal from Thiele for a 33-21 lead at that point.  It was Gaskin's second career interception and his first weekly honor of his career as Defensive Player of the Week.  Gaskin earned Freshman of the Week honors in 2018.
 
Lampley, a native of Jacksonville, Fla., made his first career start and registered a team-high ten total tackles in the victory on Thursday for his first weekly honor of his career.  Lampley had five solo stops and five assisted tackles, along with assisting on one tackle for loss and he had one hurry.  He is the first Blazer to earn Freshman of the Week honors since 2018.
 
Thiele, a Saint Augustine, Fla., native, had a record-setting performance as he went a perfect 5 for 5 in field goals to both tie the GSC record for made field goals in a game and the school record.  Thiele also went 3 for 3 in extra-points and connected on field goals from 35, 38, 22 and 45 yards.  He also split time kicking off with teammate Austin McKay as Thiele had two kickoffs for 140 yards and a 65.0 average. 
 
The five field goals made by Thiele marked the sixth time in GSC history and the second by VSU as former Blazer Will Rhody also went 5 for 5 against Central Arkansas in 2004.  Thiele's five attempts is the 19^th time that has happed in league history with seven being the most in 1981.
 
VSU continues at home this weekend as it is scheduled to entertain Virginia Union on Saturday, Sept. 10, at 5 p.m., at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium for Family Weekend.