BIRMINGHAM, Ala- Former Ouachita Tiger TJ Bingham has been honored to the 2010 Gulf South Conference All-Decade Football Team, conference officials announced on Friday.
Bingham was a premier defensive end for the Tigers during the 1998-2001 seasons, leading the GSC in sacks and setting the current school-record with 18 sacks during a stellar 2001 season. During his final collegiate campaign as a Tiger, Bingham was named as a Daktronics All-American, Associated Press Little All-American, D2 Football.com All-American and Don Hansen’s Football Gazette All-American in 2001.
The defensive end was named to the First Team Daktronics All-South Region Team in 2001, First Team All-Lone Star Conference in 1999, while also earning First team All-GSC honors in 2000 and 2001. Bingham was selected as a Blue-Gray All-Star participant in 2002, as well as a Cactus Bowl member in 2001. In the 2001 preseason, Bingham was selected Pre-Season All-Division II by Lindy’s football publication, Pre-Season All-GSC defense and Pre-Season Second Team All-America Defense by Don Hansen.
Bingham signed free agent contracts with the Kansas City Chiefs, Cleveland Browns and Miami Dolphins, while gaining his first professional playing time during the NFL Europe season with the Scottish Claymores. He led the Claymores with seven sacks and was third in the league in that category, as he also registered 23 total tackles.
Valdosta State quarterback Dusty Bonner was named the GSC Offensive Player of the Decade, while Delta State linebacker Michael Eubanks was tabbed as the GSC Defensive Player of the Decade. Valdosta State earned honors as the GSC’s Top Football Team of the Decade, after earning four conference titles and eight postseason berths, while former Valdosta State coach Chris Hatcher earned honors as the GSC Coach of the Decade.