Football 11/14/2018 12:59:00 PM

10 Tigers Earn All-GSC Football Honors

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Ten University of West Alabama football players have earned a spot on the 2018 All-Gulf South Conference Team. League coaches voted five onto the first team and four to the second team.

In five seasons under head coach Brett Gilliland's tutelage, players have been voted to All-GSC teams 50 times.

"I am really proud of the season these guys have had and they are not finished yet," UWA head coach Brett Gilliland said. "Not only are they great individual players, but they are great teammates as well.

"All are unselfish and will be the first to tell you these are as much team awards as they are individual awards," Gilliland said. "They are continuing to make UWA fans and friends proud."

Wide receiver Christian Saulsberry, tight end Qua Boyd, offensive tackle Brandon Anderson, defensive end Jordan Jones and linebacker Terry Samuel are first team selections. Receiver Bayley Blanchard, center Call Dyer, safety Nicarius Peterson, punter Zach Gaines and snapper Drew Edgar were voted to the second team.

A junior from Southhaven, Mississippi, Saulsberry has caught 50 passes for 621 yards and three touchdowns to go along with his 1,318 all-purpose yards.

A senior from Lafayette, Alabama, Boyd is a repeat first-team All-GSC selection. Despite missing three games due to injury, Boyd has 38 receptions for 465 yards and seven touchdowns. He was an all-region and All-America selection in 2017 as well.

Anderson, a junior from Bessemer, Alabama, is now a two-time All-GSC performer at offensive tackle. He was an all-region and All-America choice in 2017 as well. He has helped lead the way for more than 14,000 yards of total offense over the last three seasons.

Going into this weekend's first round playoff game, Jones has 58 tackles, including 11.5 for loss and five sacks. The junior from Lawrenceville, Georgia has also broken up a pass and has eight quarterback hurries.

The 2017 GSC Defensive Player of the Year, Samuel leads UWA and is among conference leaders with 83 tackles. From Brewton, Alabama, he also has a tackle for loss, two broken up passes and a fumble recovery. Samuel is a three-time all-conference choice, as well as an all-region and All-America selection.

From Centre, Alabama, sophomore receiver Blanchard leads UWA with 53 receptions for 628 yards ands and six touchdowns.

A Gordo, Alabama product, Dyer is now a three-time All-GSC choice and has 35 straight starts on the Tiger offensive front. A 2017 all-region choice, Dyer has helped pave the way for 151 offensive touchdowns over the last three years.

Senior safety Nicarius Peterson from McKenzie, Alabama has recorded 39 tackles and one tackle for loss this season. He also has four interceptions and two broken up passes.

From Madison, Mississippi, senior long snapper Drew Edgar has had no bad snaps on placement kicks all season. Edgar snaps for all placement kicks.

A first team All-GSC choice last season, Gaines is averaging 41.2 yards per punt with four punts of 50 or more yards. He has dropped 15 inside the opponents 20 yard line and is currently first on the UWA all-time list for punting average at 42.31 over 129 punts.

The Tigers (8-3) travel to Bowie, Maryland to face Bowie State (9-2) in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Division II Football Playoffs on Saturday. Kickoff is set for noon central time. There is no TV coverage, but Tiger fans can catch the live radio broadcast on ESPN 104.9 with Robert Upchurch and Will Atkinson on the call.

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Players Mentioned

#75 Brandon Anderson: OL; 6' 3"; Junior

#89 Bayley Blanchard: WR; 6' 1"; Sophomore

#18 Qua Boyd: TE; 6' 5"; Senior

#55 Call Dyer: OL; 6' 4"; Junior

#17 Zach Gaines: P; 6' 1"; Junior

#42 Jordan Jones: LB; 6' 2"; Junior

#3 Nicarius Peterson: DB; 5' 11"; Senior

#14 Terry Samuel: LB; 6' 2"; Senior

#2 Christian Saulsberry: WR; 5' 8"; Junior

#44 Drew Edgar: LS; 5' 9"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#75 Brandon Anderson
: 6' 3"; Junior
: OL

#89 Bayley Blanchard
: 6' 1"; Sophomore
: WR

#18 Qua Boyd
: 6' 5"; Senior
: TE

#55 Call Dyer
: 6' 4"; Junior
: OL

#17 Zach Gaines
: 6' 1"; Junior
: P

#42 Jordan Jones
: 6' 2"; Junior
: LB

#3 Nicarius Peterson
: 5' 11"; Senior
: DB

#14 Terry Samuel
: 6' 2"; Senior
: LB

#2 Christian Saulsberry
: 5' 8"; Junior
: WR

#44 Drew Edgar
: 5' 9"; Senior
: LS