Terry Named Pre-Season All-GSC, Muleriders 10th in Poll

By: Houston Taylor

MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Southern Arkansas senior defensive end Ryan Terry (5-11, 234, Houston [Westfield] Texas) has been named to the 2009 pre-season All-Gulf South Conference football team, while the Muleriders were picked to finish 10th in the annual pre-season poll released Tuesday.

Defending league champion Delta State was selected to claim this season’s conference football championship, gaining the top spot from the league’s coaches.

Two-time defending champions, the Statesmen would become just the third team in conference history to three-peat if the season plays out according to the coaches, as they gave a total of 96 points and seven first-place votes to Delta State. A tough race is expected with North Alabama being picked second, receiving 88 points and two first-place nods, with Valdosta State only one back in third with 87 points and the remaining two first-place votes. Arkansas institutions Arkansas-Monticello (72), Arkansas Tech (59), Henderson State (52) and Ouachita Baptist (43) are fourth through seventh, respectively, while West Alabama (40) and Harding (26) are eighth and ninth, respectively.

SAU received one vote to finish seventh, three for eighth, four for ninth and two for 10th to total 23 points for 10th place in the poll. West Georgia (19) rounds out the final spot.

In national magazine publications, the Statesmen are ranked fourth in both Lindy’s and the SportingNews. Valdosta State is 10th and 19th and North Alabama is 14th and 11th, respectively, and Arkansas Tech is 24th in the SportingNews.

As with the pre-season poll, the GSC football coaches also select the conference pre-season team, which includes eight players named to last year’s all-conference first team and 10 from the second team. North Alabama leads the way with seven honorees, while Delta State and Valdosta State each placed five. West Alabama added four members on the team, while Arkansas-Monticello and Ouachita Baptist round out the schools with multiple honorees, landing two each. Arkansas Tech, Harding, Henderson State and Southern Arkansas placed one player apiece.

Terry was a second team All-GSC performer last season, finishing the season with 37 tackles, 22 unassisted. He led the Muleriders with 10 stops behind the line, including a team-leading four sacks, and two fumble recoveries.

SAU has four athletes mentioned among the 2009 Top Newcomers, all red-shirt freshmen, including running back Carlos Brown (5-11, 195, Pittsburg, Texas), wide receiver Rodney Brown (6-2, 220, Crossett), nose guard Chester Owens (6-3, 280, Hot Springs) and free safety Jon Writt (6-0, 195, Longview, Texas).