The Ouachita Baptist football team was picked to finish 10th by the Gulf South Conference Preseason Coaches’ poll Tuesday.
The Tigers, who went 4-6 last season, received 24 total votes to be picked 10th. The NCAA Division II National Champs, Valdosta State, were selected to win the conference after receiving 95 votes. North Alabama (94) and Delta State (84) were second and third, respectively. Behind the Statesmen were Henderson State (68), Harding (61), Arkansas Tech (58), West Alabama (36), West Georgia (32) and Southern Arkansas (30). Arkansas-Monticello rounded the field with 23 votes.
Ouachita Baptist placed three on the All-Gulf South Conference Preseason Team. Senior wide receiver Julius Pruitt and senior tight end Bob Ruffing were tabbed to the offense squad, while senior defensive back Antwon Thompson was selected to the defensive team.
Pruitt, a native of Newport, Ark., played in nine games last season, recording a team-high 723 yards on 51 catches. He also added seven touchdowns. Ruffing, a native of Chico, Calif., appeared in all 10 games with five catches for 38 yards. Thompson, who is a native of Tallahassee, Fla., saw action in all 10 games with 24 tackles, including 17 solos. He had a team-high nine pass breakups.
Jeremy Young (JR, WR, San Diego, Calif.), John Johnson (SR, RB, El Dorado, Ark.), Clayton Goree (JR, ILB, Martinez, Calif.) and Tim Erwin (JR, DE, Hoxie, Kan.) was selected as Gulf South Conference Top Newcomers.
The Tigers open up camp Sunday, Aug. 10 with players reporting. The first scheduled practice is 4 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 12. Ouachita Baptist will have a scrimmage at A.U. Williams Field 12:30 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 23. The final scrimmage will be Tuesday, Aug. 26 in Shreveport, La.
Ouachita Baptist begins the season with back-to-back home games, starting 12 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 6 against Fort Lewis College at A.U. Williams Field. The following week, the Tigers open Gulf South Conference action against West Georgia.
