CHARLOTTE – Charleston Southern will be represented by linebackers
Steve Zayachkowsky and
Taivon Snipe along with Head Coach
Gabe Giardina on Friday during the Ohio Valley Conference's annual football media day. This year, the event is being presented by Shaw Sports Turf.
Festivities begin Friday morning at the BNA Hilton Airport Terminal and fans can follow on Charleston Southern football social media, as well as the Ohio Valley's social media channels. The morning session will feature live video on ESPN+, with the Buccaneers' trio of
Gabe Giardina, Zayachkowsky and Snipe set to talk for 15 minutes beginning at 10:55 a.m. EST / 9:55 a.m. CT.
The 2026 season marks a return to the OVC identity for the football brand. The return to the OVC identity follows three successful years of partnership with the Big South Conference under the names Big South-OVC Football Association (2023, 2024) and OVC-Big South Football Association (2025). The move reflects the league's continued evolution and its commitment to providing a unified, streamlined home for its football programs.
Zayachkowsky (Indian Trail, N.C.) was selected first-team all-conference last season after leading the league with 109 tackles. He reached double-digit tackles six times during the year, including 19 in a game against William & Mary. He was named OVC-Big South Defensive Player of the Week twice. He has played 30 games in his Buccaneer career and collected 195 tackles to date. Earlier this week he was named a preseason Third-Team All-American, member of the watchlist for the Buck Buchanan Award and Phil Steele's Preseason OVC Defensive Player of the Year.
Snipe (Charleston, S.C.) enters his third year at Charleston Southern and is expected to play a larger role in the defensive unit this season following the graduation of
Justin Waters,
Nick Bartalo and
Tylan Hollis. After redshirting in 2024, Snipe played in all 12 games in 2025. He collected three tackles during the season with two coming against South Carolina State and one against Eastern Illinois.
Charleston Southern opens its 2026 season, and conference schedule, on Thursday, August 27, at 7:00 p.m. EST at Lindenwood in Hunter Stadium. The season opening game will air live on ESPN+ in St. Charles, Missouri.
