By: Kipp Branch

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

Coming off a solid 8-3 season in Kerwin Bell’s first season as head coach the Valdosta State University Blazers have high hopes for the 2017 season.

Valdosta State plays in the always rugged Gulf South Conference, which maybe is the best Division II conference in the nation. The Blazers are picked number 2 in the preseason Gulf South Conference poll.

In the annual poll taken of GSC head coaches throughout the league, the Blazers picked up 54 votes, including one first place vote, to finish eight points behind the North Alabama Lions, who earned 62 points and seven first place votes heading into their final season before an upcoming transition to the Division I ranks.

Falling in at third place were the West Georgia Wolves with 49 points, followed closely by the Florida Tech Panthers, who secured 47 points for a predicted fourth place finish. West Alabama and Delta State landed 32 and 31 points, respectively, to claim the fifth and sixth place positions.

Rounding out the poll in the bottom three positions were West Florida at number seven with 25 points, followed by Mississippi College in the eighth spot with 16 points. Eight votes placed Shorter in the final ninth place position.

The Blazers return Adam Robles at the quarterback position from last season. He tossed 18 touchdown passes and has been picked as a preseason All-GSC selection. Offensive tackle Brandon Kemp, who made a big splash as a freshman is 2016, was chosen preseason All-GSC along with returning senior OG Josh Adams. Adams is a three year starter on the OL.

The Black Swarm defense will be led by DB Brandon Roe who picked off five passes as a junior. The Blazer secondary led the nation in interceptions in 2016. Malik Slater will lead the LB Corps. Talent is in place to have a solid defense for the 2017 campaign.

The schedule has most of the crucial conference games at home. The season opens in Albany against Albany State. Look for the Blazers to take care of ASU. Week 2 has the Blazers facing Fort Valley State in the Okefenokee Classic in Waycross. The Blazers will whip FVSU and go 2-0.

The biggest regular season game comes in week three as preseason league favorite North Alabama comes into Bazemore-Hyder Stadium to face the Blazers in the home opener.

This game will set the tone for a conference title run for VSU and the Blazers find a way to get the W.

Valdosta State will then travel back to back weeks to West Florida and West Georgia. I think the Blazers beat West Florida and have a hiccup against West Georgia in Carrollton.

The October 21^st road trip to Delta State is concerning as Cleveland, Mississippi has not been too kind to the Blazers over the years. The Statesmen have won 8 of the last 11 games against Valdosta State. This Delta State game could be a season defining road game for the Blazers.

The Blazers should handle Mississippi College, Florida Tech, Shorter, and West Alabama on Homecoming to finish 9-1 or 8-2 and earn another Division II Playoff berth.