BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Gulf South Conference Football is back for the fall 2021 season after taking a season off due to pandemic restriction. The conference has released the 2021 GSC Coaches Football Preseason Poll and the Preseason All-GSC Team as it looks to the upcoming action.

Representing West Alabama, wide receiver Tyriq Martin and offensive guard Joe Oliver received preseason honors while the Tiger football team was selected to finish fourth in the conference.

Martin, a senior from Goose Creek, S.C, returns to the field for his final season at UWA. In 2019, Martin, affectionately known as Smiley, played in 11 games, ranking second on the team and seventh in the GSC with 44 receptions and second on the team with 535 receiving yards. He had five touchdown receptions and averaged 48.6 receiving yards per game.

Oliver, a native of New Orleans, La., is also entering his final collegiate season. The 6-4, 320-pound graduate student was a huge component of the UWA offensive line in 2019. He aided his team in being third in the conference in scoring with 29.4 points per game, third in the league in total offense at 410 yards per game, and second in the conference in passing at 271.8 yards per game.

UWA football completed the 2019 season 6-5 overall and 3-5 in the conference. The Tigers were sixth in the GSC.