At last weekend’s Valdosta State University Hall of Fame induction ceremony, three individuals who have either played or coached for the Coffee Trojans were inducted as a part of the 2018 VSU Blazers National Champion football team.
Linebacker Jameon Gaskin and defensive lineman Javionte Martin, both former Trojans and freshmen on the championship team; and defensive back Alex Brown, a Lowndes Viking who is now a Coffee assistant coach, were on the team in 2018. All three played as freshmen and contributed to the Blazers’ national title run. Gaskin was named the Gulf South Conference’s Defensive Freshman of the Year that season. Martin remained with Valdosta State following his playing career; he’s currently VSU’s assistant defensive line coach and housing coordinator. In addition to being an assistant coach, Brown also teaches at Indian Creek Elementary in Douglas.
The 2018 team had one of the best football seasons all-time in the history of Valdosta State football. The Blazers had an unprecedented and school-best 14-0 record winning the program’s fourth national championship with a thrilling 49-47 victory over Ferris State University in McKinney, Texas. VSU claimed its first Gulf South Conference title since 2010 and the first outright league title since 2004.
Under the direction of then-third year head coach Kerwin Bell, the Blazer offense was unstoppable as it led the nation in scoring offense at 52.0 points per game, while the Blazers were fourth nationally in total offense at 523.9 yards per game. Blazer quarterback Rogan Wells finished second in the Harlon Hill Award as he became the fourth different Blazer to be named a finalist for the award. Six different players earned All-America honors that season, including Jeremy King, Rogan Wells, Adonis Sealey, Ravarius Rivers, LaVonne Gauthney and Jamar Thompkins.
The Blazers amassed 7,334 yards of offense that season, scored 728 points and registered 97 touchdowns — all were school records. VSU improved 6.5 games from 2017 to 2018, as the team went 5-4 in 2017 followed by the 14-0 mark in 2018. The improvement is tied for 12th all-time in NCAA Division II.