VSU First, SAU In Top 25

Magnolia, Ark.—Valdosta State University, the defending three-time champion of the Gulf South Conference and runner-up for the national championship last year, has been picked by D2Football.com to win the national NCAA Division II championship in 2003 over the team that nipped them in the 2002 championship game, Grand Valley State.

Following first-place VSU, the next team to be ranked from the GSC is the University of Central Arkansas in 20^th place. Southern Arkansas University is tied for 23^rd and Harding University is the final team in the rankings at 25^th.

SAU’s opening opponent, Tarleton State University of the Lone Star Conference, is ranked 15^th. Tarleton’s LSC rival, Texas A&M-Kingsville, is the only other school in the LSC to be ranked, holding down sixth place.

SAU wide receiver Nik Lewis is one of three players from the GSC on the 2003 D2Football.com pre-season All-America first team. Tight end Landon Trusty of Central Arkansas and defensive end Tommy Edwards of Arkansas Tech are the others.

Second-team selections from the GSC are SAU free safety Brian Davis, running back Aaron Jenkins of Valdosta State and special teams player Gerald Gales of the University of West Alabama.

Tarleton State offensive lineman Kert Turner was also named as a first-team choice on the D2.Football.com team.