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College Football
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Kellen Walker
Five Delta State Players Selected to 2025 Preseason All-Conference Team
The Gulf South Conference’s football head coaches held a vote for the 2025 Preseason Gulf South All-Conference Team, and the Delta State Statesmen had five players selected.
On offense, quarterback Cole Kirk had a huge season last year for Delta State, leading the offense to 416.9 yards per game, which ranked 21st in the country. In 2024, Kirk converted 143 passes for 2,052 yards and 18 TDs. He was also able to pick up 415 yards on the ground and lead the team with seven touchdowns.
Wide receiver Neno Lemay was the other offensive player for the Statesmen to be selected to the Preseason All-Conference Team. During the 2024 season in his first year at Delta State, he was tied for the most receptions on the team with 33 catches. Lemay totaled 410 receiving yards and three touchdowns on the year, and will look to be a big threat this season.
On the defensive side, linebacker William Carter was one of the three chosen. Carter enters his fourth season on the field for the Statesmen, coming off a 2024 campaign where he recorded 48 total tackles with 22 of them being s0lo. He also notched 22 assists, two fumble recoveries and a sack last season. His performances earned him a second-team All-GSC selection in 2024.
Senior safety Taylon Doss also made the cut, coming off a season where he totaled 45 tackles (28 solo) and two pass breakups. His highlight of 2o24 was when he picked off the 2024 GSC conference MVP Sammy Edwards in the team’s last contest of the season. Doss also played the role of punt returner for the Statesmen, taking 15 returns for 96 yards.
The last player to earn Preseason All-Conference honors was Jarius McFarland. In the 2024 season, McFarland led the defensive backfield at corner back with three interceptions, also racking up five pass breakups and 21 tackles (14 solo).
Delta State opens its 2025 campaign on Thursday, August 28 where they will host the Central Missouri Mules at McCool stadium.
