West Alabama earns 11 All-Gulf South preseason football selections

[ASFN Admin]

The Gulf South Conference has unveiled its preseason all-conference football selections for the 2026 season, with West Alabama placing 11 players on the list.

The Tigers are represented by Brayden Jenkins (All-Purpose), TD Parker (Wide Receiver), Ben Newton (Center), Barrett Cain (Offensive Guard), Mason Hiller (Offensive Tackle), Xavier McDowell (Defensive Line), Anthony Oatis (Defensive Line), Lake Gurley (Linebacker), Chrissean Jones (Defensive Back), Jacobi Green (Defensive Back) and Elijah Guyton (Kicker).

West Alabama coach Scott Cochran, who went 5-4 in his first season in 2025, will look to build on that success with a strong core of preseason honorees. The All-GSC team was selected by the league's head coaches, who were not permitted to vote for their own players.

West Alabama's opener is Sunday, Aug. 30, against Tuskegee in the Red Tails Classic on ESPN2.

Here is the complete list of preseason All-GSC selections:

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Offense​

Quarterback: Jameson Holcomb, Valdosta State

Running Back: Nick Clark, Delta State; Shawn Paschall, Valdosta State

All-Purpose: Brayden Jenkins, West Alabama

Wide Receiver: TD Parker, West Alabama; Lawrence Armstrong, Delta State

Tight End: Carter Coullard, Delta State

Center: Ben Newton, West Alabama

Offensive Guard: Barrett Cain, West Alabama

Offensive Tackle: Ty Merkle, Valdosta State; Mason Hiller, West Alabama

Defense​

Defensive Line: Xavier McDowell, West Alabama; Anthony Oatis, West Alabama; Chris Brown, Delta State; Maliek Robertson, Delta State

Linebacker: Julius Pascal, Valdosta State; Tavian Moore, Delta State; Austin Collins, Delta State; Lake Gurley, West Alabama

Defensive Back: Rickey Ransom, Valdosta State; Chrissean Jones, West Alabama; Jacobi Green, West Alabama

Specialists​

Kicker: Elijah Guyton, West Alabama

Punter: Price Nixon, Delta State

Return Specialist: Shawn Paschall, Valdosta State

Special Teams Utility: Brandin Talley, Delta State

This story was created by reporter Dylan Jespersen, [email protected], with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: West Alabama earns 11 All-Gulf South preseason football selections

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