BIRMINGHAM, ALA. – Delta State University, 2008 Gulf South Conference champions, placed 10 players on the All-Gulf South Conference Team, as announced by the conference office Thursday. For a third-consecutive year the Statesmen had the GSC Defensive Player of the Year, as junior linebacker Lardester Hicks-Green received the honor. Head coach Ron Roberts earned his second straight Coach of the Year award after guiding the Statesmen to back-to-back GSC titles.

Lardester Hicks-Green, a 6-foot-1, 220-pound outside linebacker from Chicago, Ill., is the third straight Statesmen to earn the honor after recording a team-high 77 tackles, 13.5 for loss, 4.5 sacks, an interception and a forced fumble. The junior linebacker also earned his second straight first-team honor after leading the Statesmen to the No. 1-ranked defense in the GSC.

Defensive lineman Justin Halas, linebacker Anthony King, and defensive back Dominic Spinks joined Hicks-Green on the first-team defense. Halas made 31 tackles, four for loss, with 3.5 sacks, while pressuring opposing quarterbacks into bad throws on numerous occasions. King earned his second straight first-team selection, leading the Statesmen with five sacks, while making 26 tackles, 8.5 for loss. Spinks led the secondary, recording a second-best 58 tackles, nine for loss, with three sacks. He also intercepted two passes and broke up 13.

Sophomore running back Trevar Deed and senior tackle Mark Ellis were named to the first-team offense. Deed carried the ball 98 times for 525 yards and seven touchdowns, while grabbing 52 passes for 543 yards and three scores. Ellis earned his second All-GSC award and first first-team nod after leading the team in devastation blocks and performance grading.

Kyle Van Ness was also named to the first team as a block team specialist. Van Ness was a devastating force on special teams, participating on all four units, making a name for himself as a wedge-buster on kickoffs.

Chad Schroeder earned second team honors as both a wide receiver and a punt returner, while Pete Vaesau was named to the second team as a center. Schroeder led the Statesmen with 61 catches for 654 yards and three touchdowns, and carried the ball 48 times for 247 yards and four touchdowns. The senior also led the GSC in punt returns at 16.8 yards per return. Vaesau graded at 90-percent or better, while starting every game for the Statesmen.

Dominique Davenport was named Defensive Freshman of the Year after leading the Statesmen with three interceptions. He also recorded 38 tackles, one for loss.

North Alabama led all schools with 16 overall selections, while Henderson State and Arkansas-Monticello placed seven each overall, the third highest in the conference. Arkansas-Monticello quarterback Scott Buisson was named GSC Offensive Player of the Year.