VALDOSTA, Ga. – Coming off a thrilling 31-28 win in the 2025 season-opener versus Clark Atlanta, Valdosta State freshman kicker Matt Rolader was named Gulf South Conference Freshman of the Week, while junior punter Devin Walter was named Special Teams Player of the Week, the conference office announced Monday.
 
This is the first weekly honor for both in their Blazer careers.  Rolader, a native of Auburn, Ala., was 1 for 2 in field goals and hit the eventual game-winning field goal in the fourth quarter, breaking a 28-28 tie.  He also went 4 for 4 in extra-points and had one kickoff for 64 yards.   
 
Walter, a junior transfer from Rhode Island and native of Concord, N.C., had two huge punts in his Blazer debut pinning Clark Atlanta inside the five on both punts to flip field position.  The second punt pinned CAU at its own two and the Blazer "D" forced a three-and-out early in the fourth as VSU took over and eventually kicked the go-ahead field goal.  The first punt went 47 yards and was downed at CAU's four in the second quarter.
 
The Blazers head to the Tar Heel State to face Johnson C. Smith on Saturday at 12 p.m., in Charlotte, N.C.  Check back with vstateblazers.com for more information on the game throughout the week.
 
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