UWF football: See which 10 Argos were named to the GSC All-Preseason team

The Gulf South Conference released its 2024 Preseason All-GSC Football Team on Thursday.

The University of West Florida led all GSC teams with 10 selections to the All-Preseason team. Delta State wasn't far behind with nine players selected. Valdosta State, which was voted as the preseason favorite to win the conference championship, had two players on the list.

UWF stood out on the defensive side for the preseason team, with seven preseason picks coming from the Argos' defense.

Here are the Argos that were selected to the 2024 GSC All-Preseason team.

Tyree Holloway (sophomore), wide receiver

Tyree Holloway has yet to play in an official game for the Argos. Now in his second season in college football, Holloway played his freshman year at GSC foe Chowan University. He had a standout year for the Hawks, recording 22 receptions for 476 yards and five touchdowns. His longest reception of the season came, ironically, against UWF during the Argos' game against the Hawks in November, when Holloway caught a 75-yard touchdown pass, his only reception of the game. There was only one game last season where Holloway didn't haul in a pass, and that was against Benedict College in Week 4.

The Jacksonville, North Carolina, native transferred to UWF during the spring, and competed at Pen Air Field during UWF's spring game. Holloway will look to be part of a group of wide receivers that are going to have to replace some big names, including K.J. Franklin, John Jiles and Caden Leggett, who were three of the top four receivers from the 2023 campaign.

Colton Beesley (redshirt junior), offensive guard

A Saraland, Alabama, native, Colton Beesley appeared in 10 games for the Argos last season, starting in the final six games – including UWF's postseason push, before falling to Delta State in the NCAA Division II Super Region 2 first-round game. Beesley was a second-team All-GSC selection after the 2023 season.

Ben Freeman (graduate student), offensive tackle

Another offensive lineman for UWF, Ben Freeman saw action in 11 games for the Argos during the 2023 campaign, starting, the final seven games at right tackle. Freeman transferred from Northwest Missouri State University before last season, and enters the 2024 season as his last year of college eligibility.

Byron Puryear (senior), defensive lineman

Part of a suffocating defensive line that was aided by defensive coordinator Kavell Conner's 4-3 scheme (four defensive linemen, three linebackers), Puryear was sixth on the team in total tackles with 36 (25 solo, 11 assisted). That included 10 tackles for a loss of 41 yards, and five sacks – which was second on the team, behind standout John McMullen, who graduated. Puryear also rushed the quarterback 10 times and forced a fumble.

With the loss of McMullen, Puryear will likely be a go-to guy on the defensive line for the Argos. Puryear was a second-team All-GSC selection after the 2023 campaign.

Traevon Mitchell (junior), defensive lineman

This is also Traevon Mitchell's first season with UWF, after transferring in from Chowan, joining Holloway in the process. Mitchell played in two seasons with the Hawks, and was as first-team All-GSC selection following the 2023 campaign. Mitchell posted 57 tackles (31 solo, 26 assisted) with a sack, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. His 57 tackles led Chowan. Mitchell was also a menace in the backfield, recording 14 tackles for a total loss of 56 yards.

Mitchell should fit right in with the suffocating defense that UWF put up last season, lining up next to players like Puryear.

Ralph Ortiz (sophomore), linebacker

It's little surprise that the 2023 GSC Defensive Freshman of the Year, Ralph Ortiz, is a on the all-preseason team as a player to watch. Ortiz exploded onto the scene for the Argos after a few defensive injuries early in the season, and he never looked back. UWF head coach Kaleb Nobles complimented Ortiz's hybrid nature during the 2023 season, noting his ability to get involved in the rush on defense, while also playing back in man or zone coverage in the nickel linebacker spot.

Ortiz was tied for fourth on the Argos with 40 total tackles (28 solo, 12 assisted), adding seven tackles for a total loss of 29 yards and a sack for a loss of 12 yards. Ortiz tallied three interceptions, including a pick-6 against the University of West Georgia during UWF's conference-opener. He was a three-time Freshman of the Week award-winner from the GSC, earning the award three times in a row from Sept. 25 to Oct. 9.

Will Breland (senior), linebacker

Will Breland was forced to miss a majority of the 2023 season after suffering a season-ending injury in Week 2 at McKendree University. In two games, Breland had already recorded 10 tackles, two of which were for a loss, adding a pass breakup and a quarterback hurry. While linebackers filled in, Breland's presence was missed after a standout sophomore season in 2022, where he recorded a team-high 94 tackles in 14 games at middle linebacker, also recording a forced fumble, three fumble recoveries and two interceptions.

With a high-flying defense under Kavell Conner, Breland – along with players like Ortiz and Walker Robinson – should continue that aforementioned suffocating defense.

Virgil Lemons (senior), defensive back

Virgil Lemons flew around the backfield during the 2023 season, compiling 24 tackles (18 solo, 6 assisted) while adding in a pair of interceptions and three pass breakups. The 2023 season was Lemons' first year in northwest Florida after transferring in from UNC-Pembroke. Lemons also served as UWF's primary punt returner, ending the season with 18 returns for 162 yards. He had a long punt return of 30 yards against Shorter University.

Donovan Barnes (sophomore), defensive back

Another part of the strong UWF secondary, Donovan Barnes had a breakout first year with the Argos. Barnes finished just ahead of Lemons in tackles with 33 (26 solo, 7 assisted), leading all defensive backs for UWF. He also added an interception with three pass breakups. As a freshman, Barnes appeared in all 12 games, starting in 11 of them. Barnes had a season-high eight tackles during the Argos' Week 3 game at Florida A&M.

Don Volante (junior), long snapper

A special-teams All-Preseason team selection, Don Volante appeared in all 12 games for the Argos in 2023, serving as the team's long snapper. He made one tackle on special teams during Week 3 at Florida A&M. A rising junior, Volante transferred from Southeastern University.

Ben Grieco is a sports reporter for the Pensacola News Journal. He can be reached on X (@BenGriecoSports) and via email at BGrieco@gannett.com .

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: UWF football: See which 10 Argos were named to the GSC All-Preseason team