2011 OVC Football Media Day Video: Jacksonville State 8/15/2011 2:30:00 PM Preseason Release | OVC Media Guide | OVC Online Press BoxFor the third time in the past four seasons Jacksonville State has been picked the favorite in the Ohio Valley Conference football race.Overall it marks the fourth time since Jacksonville State joined the OVC in 2003 that the Gamecocks have been tabbed the preseason favorites (JSU was also picked first in 2005, 2008 and 2010). Jax State won the OVC Championship in each of its first two years in the league (2003 and 2004) but despite coming up a game short of the championship last season, the Gamecocks had an impressive season that started with a 49-48 double overtime victory at Ole Miss. That victory catapulted JSU into the FCS Top 10 and the Gamecocks would go on to finish the regular season 9-2 and 6-2 in the OVC and earn an at-large berth in the FCS Playoffs (its first playoff appearance since 2004). Jacksonville State would see its season come to an end with a three-point loss at home to Wofford in the playoffs. This season Jax State returns 51 letterwinners including six offensive and seven defensive starters. Five JSU players were named to the Preseason All-OVC team including senior offensive tackle Odie Rush, senior defensive linemen Monte Lewis and Jamison Wadley, senior linebacker Rodney Garrott and junior defensive back Keginald Harris. Lewis was tabbed the OVC Preseason Co-Defensive Player of the Year a season after registering 37 tackles, 7.0 tackles-for-loss and three sacks in 12 games. Offensively the team returns starting quarterback Marques Ivory who threw for 2,248 yards and 18 touchdowns last season and backup quarterback/starting punter Coty Blanchard who accounted for eight passing and two rushing scores last year on his way to OVC Freshman of the Year honors. JSU head coach Jack Crowe also welcomes Georgia running back transfer Washaun Ealey to the squad; Ealey, who has junior eligibility, rushed for 1,528 yards and 14 touchdowns in two seasons with the Bulldogs.BELOW VIDEOSHead Coach Jack CroweQB Marques IvoryDL Jamison Wadley