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| Gerald Ford was named First Team All-Super Region 2. (Ed Hooper | The VDT) |
Four of the players garnered first team honors, all on the offensive side of the ball, including two offensive linemen.
Senior offensive tackle Ryan Schraeder earned the honor for the second straight year after grading out at 96 percent this year. Schraeder, who is also one of eight finalists for the Gene Upshaw Award as the nation’s top lineman, led Valdosta State with 56 knockdown blocks, and has allowed only one quarterback hit in 764 plays.
Schraeder was joined by senior offensive guard Edmund Kugbila. Kugbila was second on the team with 53 knockdown blocks during the season and graded out at 93.5 percent on the year, while giving up no sacks and only one quarterback hit.
Blazer junior quarterback Cayden Cochran also garnered first team honors. Cochran passed for 2,077 yards and 20 touchdowns while rushing for 262 yards and six more scores.
Cochran owned a 153.15 quarterback rating on the season while completing 161 of 253 passes in the equivalent of nine games.
Cochran’s favorite target, junior wide receiver Gerald Ford, was the final first team honoree. Ford, who was named the Gulf South Conference Offensive Player of the Year, while also being a regional finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy, is tops in the GSC in receptions (55), receiving yards (873) and touchdowns (12).
Junior linebacker Chris Pope was the final Blazer to receive All-Region honors, getting second team accolades. Pope leads the Valdosta State squad with 86 tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss. He intercepted one pass during the season and also recovered one fumble while breaking up a pass and registering five quarterback hurries.
Valdosta State’s five All-Region honors tied with fellow GSC member West Alabama for tops in Super Region 2.
By being named first team All-Region, Schraeder, Kugbila, Cochran and Ford are eligible for All-American honors.
— Follow me on Twitter at @Ed_Hooper.
