VALDOSTA, Ga. – Valdosta State redshirt freshman wide receiver Rodney Bullard earned Gulf South Conference Freshman of the Week, the league office announced Monday.  This is Bullard's first weekly honor of his career and the fifth different Blazer to earn league player of the week honors this season.
 
Bullard, a native of Albany, Ga., put together a notable performance to help Valdosta State to a 20-14 win at West Alabama on Saturday. The rookie wideout pulled in six catches as he recorded 108 receiving yards and a touchdown. Bullard's score proved to be the game-winner as he broke a 14-14 tie in the third quarter allowing the Blazers to improve to 6-1 in conference play. He also finished the two kickoff returns for a total 53 yards.
 
For the season, Bullard has 20 catches for 335 yards and three touchdowns, while he has five kick returns for 116 yards this season and a 23.2 average per return.  Bullard joins junior quarterback Sammy Edwards (2), junior running back G'Mone Wilson, graduate student defensive back Nick Jackson and graduate student defensive back Jacob Harris earning player of the week honors this season.  Bullard is the first Blazer to be named Freshman of the Week since current sophomore linebacker Akil Lampley last season on Sept. 5.  Prior to that, no Blazer has earned FOW accolades since 2018.
 
Bullard and the Blazers (9-1, 6-1 GSC) host West Georgia on Saturday at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium in the regular season finale for both teams at 7 p.m., in the final edition of the Peach Basket Game.