State college preview

Savannah State (0-0)

Next game: at Georgia Southern (0-0), 6 p.m. Saturday

• Anchoring the Tigers offense this season are senior running back Justin Babb and junior quarterback A.J. Defilippis. Babb finished last season as the team leading rusher with 804 yards in 129 carries with six touchdowns. Defilippis played in seven games last season and finished with 46 completions for 425 yards and three touchdowns. ... Interim SSU head coach Julius Dixion is no stranger to GSU's Paulson Stadium. The Toccoa native was a four-year starter at Southern Conference rival Furman and a member of the 1988 NCAA I-AA national championship team. He also served as an assistant coach at Furman from 1994-2006. ... The SSU football team will start the season with nine consecutive road trips for seven away games and two neutral-site games.

Valdosta State (0-0)

Next game: vs. Wingate (1-0), 7 p.m. Saturday

• Thirty-three players will suit up for Valdosta State for the first time Saturday. Still, VSU returns 15 starters from last year's club. All three special teams starters return while the offense welcomes back seven players and the defense five. ... No quarterback on the roster has ever completed a pass for the Blazers. ... On the flip side, seven of the Blazers' top nine rushers return and nine of their top 11 offensive linemen, including four starters, are back. ... Valdosta remains a tough team to beat at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium. VSU went 4-2 last year at home and the two losses marked the first time since 2006 and just the third time since the 2000 season that the Blazers had lost two games at home in a season.

West Georgia (0-1)

Next game: vs. Concordia (0-0), 2 p.m. Saturday

• Arkeem French led the Wolves with six receptions for 74 yards in last Saturday's 10-7 loss to Wingate. ... Senior defensive end Jeremy Cook picked up his first career interception for the Wolves in the second half. ... Safety Manny Rodriguez led the defensive effort with 14 tackles. ... UWG senior quarterback Brandon Behenna (East Coweta) finished the game for the Wolves and could get the start Saturday.

Georgia Southern (0-0)

Next game: vs Savannah State (0-0), 6 p.m. Saturday

• First-year head coach Jeff Monken brings the option offense back to Georgia Southern, led by Flowery Branch's Jaybo Shaw, the quarterback who transferred from Georgia Tech. ... Monken spent 13 years as an assistant coach on Paul Johnson's staffs at Georgia Southern (1997-2001), Navy (2002-2007) and Georgia Tech (2008-09). ... Brent Russell, FCS freshman of the year for 2009, anchors the defense at nose tackle, leading a unit where every projected starter has at least one career start. ... The Eagles will celebrate the anniversaries of three national championships this year: 25th anniversary of the first title in 1985, the 20th anniversary of the 1990 championship and 10th of its sixth national championship.

Morehouse (1-0)

Next game: at Fort Valley State (1-0), 7 p.m. Saturday

• Morehouse is coming off a 34-27 overtime win against Benedict. ... Quarterback William Brack completed 16-of-32 passes for 157 yards and ran for 73 yards. Coaches were particularly impressed with how he orchestrated a 15-play, 80-yard drive to force overtime. ... Newcomer David Hector, who led all receivers with seven catches for 87 yards, should help spread the field and open up some opportunities for the Morehouse ground game. ... Offensive lineman Stacy Louis was voted the SIAC offensive lineman of the week.

Fort Valley State (1-0)

Next game: vs. Morehouse (1-0), 7 p.m. Saturday

• The Wildcats held Miles College to 141 total yards last week, including minus one yard rushing. ... FVSU's Ricky Johnson led all defenders with nine tackles (7 solo, 2 assists). ...  Denzel Wesley scored on a 47-yard run. Brand Anderson also rushed for a touchdown from 13 yards out. ... Punt returner An'thon Harris took a punt 46 yards for a touchdown.

LaGrange (0-0)

Next game: at Birmingham Southern (0-0) 1 p.m. (CST) Saturday

• LaGrange opens the season for the second straight year against Birmingham Southern. Last year, LaGrange won 30-27, getting 193 passing yards from returning quarterback Drew Carter. ... Receiver Devin Billings, who tied for the team lead with 47 catches last year, returns as well.

Georgia Military College (0-0)