BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Following the 2025 Gulf South Conference Football Media Day, the league announced its preseason coaches poll and the all-preseason team Wednesday afternoon.  The Blazers were picked to tie for second with West Alabama, while four VSU football student-athletes were named to the league's all-preseason team.
 
West Florida was picked to win the league garnering nine points and three first-place votes, while West Alabama and Valdosta State each were picked second with six points.  UWA tallied the remaining first-place nod and Delta State was picked fourth with three points. 
 
Blazer graduate wide receiver Tyler Ajiero, along with senior offensive guard James Robinson, senior defensive lineman Jemarrlowe Sykes and senior defensive back Rance Conner were named to the all-preseason team. 
 
Ajiero, a Tifton, Ga., native, earned second team all-GSC honors helping lead VSU to the program's seventh national title appearance in 2024.  Ajiero with 40 receptions for 550 yards and six touchdown receptions.  He registered two touchdowns in wins at Shorter and against Mississippi College, while he had a season-high 97 yards on four receptions at Shorter. 
 
Robinson, a native of Montgomery, Ala., came to VSU last season from South Alabama.  In 2024, he blocked for Harlon Hill finalist quarterback Sammy Edwards as Robinson played in 12 games earning second team all-league honors.  Robinson helped VSU to a 13-1 record overall last season, while the Blazers finished eighth nationally in scoring offense at 40.1 points per game, 11^th nationally in total offense (448.6 yards/game) and 23^rd nationally in passing offense at 248.0 yards per game all to lead the league. 
 
Sykes was key for the Blazers' run to the championship game in 2024, as he played in nine games on the defensive line with 30 total tackles.  He finished with 8.5 tackles for loss for 36 yards and 4.5 sacks for 21 yards to lead the team.  Sykes had two quarterback hurries for the season.  He had a season-high eight total tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks at Erskine (Sept. 21).  The Detroit, Mich., native, had four games of registering at least one tackle for loss and one sack. 
 
Conner, a native of Miami, Fla., earned second team all-league honors last season in his first season for the red and black.  Conner helped a secondary as he played in all 14 games recording 17 tackles, one tackle for loss for two yards, two interceptions and a team-high ten pass breakups.  Both of Conner's thefts came in the playoffs, with one against Miles College (Nov. 30) and one in the national semifinals against Minnesota State (Dec. 14). 
 
The Blazers open the Graham Craig era on Aug. 30 in Birmingham, Ala., in the Week Zero Labor Day Classic versus Clark Atlanta at historic Legion Field.