VALDOSTA — With the second semester of college just kicking off, students are just getting a start studying, going to class and doing the things college students do.

For nine new students at Valdosta State, that’s exactly why they’re at VSU for the first time, to get a head start.

However, these nine new students are in Valdosta to get a head start on the football field as well.

Two freshman, two seniors and five juniors started school at VSU Monday and will be a part of the Blazers football team next season.

“All those are guys we feel like can come in and help us right away,” Hatcher said. “The positive for having them is they get the chance to go through our off-season conditioning program and go through spring practice, which is huge in getting them acclimated in the way we do things here.”

Skyler Thornton, a transfer from the University of Florida who will be a senior next season, headlines the transfers.

While with the Gators in 2005, the 5-foot-10 running back played rushing for 96 yards on 20 attempts.

With 2005 leading rusher Vince Brown graduating, VSU coach Chris Hatcher brought in a second running back in Terrance Hall.

Hall comes in as a 5-foot-8 freshman from Florida Atlantic.

In 10 games, Hall ran the ball 13 times for 19 yards, including a long carry of 11 yards.

“We lost Vince to graduation, and we got two running backs there in Terrance Hall and Skyler Thornton,” Hatcher said. “Both those guys we feel are good running backs.”

With quarterback Barrett Wilkes being removed from the starting lineup during the Blazers playoff game against North Alabama in 2005, there has been much speculation about the position heading into 2006.

Adding to the quarterback competition in the spring will be Erik Walden, a transfer from Gulf Coast Community College and former Thomas County Central standout.

The 6-foot-1, 190-pound junior is an athletic quarterback who was on a running team at TCC and played in the shotgun a season ago.

“Walden was a great quarterback at Thomas County Central, went to Gulf Coast and ran the veer in high school, and they put him in shotgun and he really liked it,” Hatcher said. “He initially signed with Carson Newman out of high school.”

Another Division I transfer to VSU is defensive back Erode Jean. Jean started 19 games for East Carolina, including a 24 tackle, one interception season in 2005.

Also on the defensive end, three defensive lineman were brought in.

Six-foot-six defensive tackle Dominque Bacon from Gulf Coast Community College; Melvin Black, a 6-foot-3 defensive end from Apopka High; and Cortez Lawrence, a 6-foot-4, 305-pound defensive tackle out of Northeast Mississippi Community College, will all compete for time on the line.

Rounding out the transfers this semester are wide receivers Cedric Jones, a 6-foot, 180-pound product of Troy State, and Cedric Evans, a 5-foot-11, 185 pound transfer from Hibbing Community College.

The nine transfers will join midterm transfers brought in by Hatcher and VSU to start conditioning and spring practice.

“We’re looking forward to them coming in and compete, just like everybody else is going to do,” Hatcher said. “And try to make their mark with the team.”