VALDOSTA – The 2008 NFL Draft came and went, and despite much speculation, no Blazers were chosen. But it didn’t take long for a trio of Valdosta State football players to be called up to the next level.
Cornerback Maurice Leggett, offensive lineman Gerald Davis, and quarterback Willie Copeland have all been invited to NFL rookie mini-camps.
Leggett has already signed with the team that invited him to their camp, the Kansas City Chiefs. The five-foot-eleven, 188 pound cornerback was a big addition to an aging Chiefs secondary.
Last year Leggett was named to the All-Gulf South Conference first team after totaling 46 tackles, five interceptions, and two defensive touchdowns.
He also tied the school record for passes broken up with 15 in 2006.
Willie Copeland, Valdosta State’s signal caller for the past two seasons, is now on his way to New York.
After a lot of talk about getting drafted in the late rounds, Copeland had to wait until a phone call from the Miami Dolphins following the draft.
His stint as a Dolphin was short-lived though, as he was let go following mini-camp. But his road to the NFL lives on this weekend as Copeland travels north for the New York Giants rookie min-camp.
The Giants were one of the first teams to contact Copeland, and even invited him to their facilities prior to the draft. He will be competing with veterans David Carr, Anthony Wright and Jared Lorenz and rookie Andre Woodson for a spot on the team.
As a senior, Copeland threw for 3,160 yards and 28 touchdowns with a 63.6 completion percentage.
Even the Canadian Football League has called for Copeland. The Edmonton Eskimos, who are celebrating their 60th season this year, are also looking to add depth at the position.
Gerald Davis also got the call from the NFL, but Davis went down to the New Orleans Saints. Davis started in 36 of his 46 games as a Blazer, including all 14 of the 2007 season.
The Saints’ camp, which starts Friday, will feature their six draft picks, 16 rookie free agent signees and 36 other rookies invited to the camp.
Davis, along with Leggett, played in both of Valdosta State’s national championships.
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Blazers try to move on to next level
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’Cats, Vikings clash tonight
When Valdosta and Lowndes meet on the basketball court, it’s usually a battle.
The last time the two crosstown rivals met on the hardwood, both the boys’ game and the girls’ game went down to the final seconds in front of a packed house at Lowndes’ gymnasium.
Tonight, the two schools meet again, this time on Valdosta’s court. The girls teams will clash at 6 p.m., with the boys to follow afterwards. -
Blazer baseball returns today
It is a busy time in Valdosta State athletics, and today it gets even busier with the Blazer baseball team opening regular season play.
The unranked Blazers welcome Lindenwood to Billy Grant Field for a 2:30 p.m. first pitch. The game is a part of the Comfort Suites Classic, a tournament being hosted by Valdosta State. -
Big second half leads Valdosta State to 81-75 win over Delta State
Valdosta State’s men’s basketball team used a 16-5 run in the second half to grab the lead en route to a 81-75 Gulf South Conference victory over Delta State on Thursday evening.
With the victory, VSU improved to 9-10 on the year and 2-6 in GSC play, while Delta State fell to 4-15 and 0-8 in league play. -
Lady Blazers fall to Delta State, 56-52
In a matchup that Gulf South Conference fans will likely see again in the postseason, Valdosta State fell to Delta State, 56-52, to split the regular season series with the Lady Statesmen.
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Valdosta High baseball team hosting alumni game Saturday
The Valdosta High baseball team is hosting an alumni game on Saturday at Bazemore Field. All former Valdosta High baseball players are welcome to compete in the game.
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Six Wildcats sign Wednesday
Six Valdosta football players signed their letters of intent on National Signing Day on Wednesday.
The players made their commitments in front of a large group of fans, teachers and students during a ceremony in the school’s Performing Arts Center. -
5 Vikings commit to play college football
While Josh Harvey-Clemons stole most of the headlines on National Signing Day, several other Lowndes Vikings signed national letters of intent on Wednesday.
Defensive end James Mathis was the only other Division I signee, committing to Florida Atlantic over Troy. Mathis was third on the team in tackles in 2011 with 63 1/2. He led the team with seven sacks and eight tackles for a loss. He was an All-State defensive lineman in 2010. -
Dean likes Blazers’ signing class
The Valdosta State football team is set to return a whole host of players from its 2011 squad.
But that didn’t stop head coach David Dean from going out and bringing in more talent. -
Lowndes' Harvey-Clemons sends letter of intent to Georgia
Regarded as the state of Georgia’s best player, Lowndes’ Josh Harvey-Clemons announced Wednesday that he will be staying in-state to play college football.
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Super security goes into place for Super Bowl
Law enforcement officials charged with Super Bowl security are taking extraordinary measures to prevent a terrorist attack, but they’re also working to keep the event from being a field day for common criminals.
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