https://sunbeltsports.org/news/2023/11/ ... teams.aspx

2023 SUN BELT CONFERENCE FOOTBALL POSTSEASON AWARDS
Player of the Year
Jordan McCloud, James Madison (RS Sr., QB – Tampa, Fla.)

Offensive Player of the Year
Kimani Vidal, Troy (Jr., RB – Marietta, Ga.)

Defensive Player of the Year
Jalen Green, James Madison (Sr., DL – Baltimore, Md.)

Newcomer of the Year
Joey Aguilar, App State (Jr., QB – Antioch, Calif.)

Freshman of the Year
Jaylen Raynor, Arkansas State (Fr., QB – Kernersville, N.C.)

Coach of the Year
Curt Cignetti, James Madison

All-Sun Belt First Team Offense
QB – Jordan McCloud, James Madison (RS Sr., QB – Tampa, Fla.)
RB – Marcus Carroll, Georgia State (Sr., RB – Union City, Ga.)
RB – Kimani Vidal, Troy (Jr., RB – Marietta, Ga.)
OL – Isaiah Helms, App State (Sr., OL – Hudson, N.C.)
OL – Bucky Williams, App State (RS Sr., OL – Ringgold, Ga.)
OL – Jacob Bayer, Arkansas State (Jr., OL – Grandview, Texas)
OL – Khalil Crowder, Georgia Southern (6th Yr., OL – Carrollton, Ga.)
OL – Travis Glover, Georgia State (RS Sr., OL – Vienna, Ga.)
TE – Zach Horton, James Madison (Jr., TE – Roanoke, Va.)
WR – Reggie Brown, James Madison (RS Sr., WR – Lakeland, Fla.)
WR – Elijah Sarratt, James Madison (So., WR – Stafford, Va.)
WR – Caullin Lacy, South Alabama (Jr., WR – Mobile, Ala.)

All-Sun Belt First Team Defense
DL – Jalen Green, James Madison (Sr., DL – Baltimore, Md.)
DL – Jamree Kromah, James Madison (RS Sr., DL – Glenarden, Md.)
DL – Owen Porter, Marshall (RS Sr., DL – Huntington, W.Va.)
DL – Richard Jibunor, Troy (Sr., DL – Delta State, Nigeria)
DL – Javon Solomon, Troy (Jr., DL – Tallahassee, Fla.)
LB – Andrew Parker Jr., App State (RS Sr., LB – New Orleans, La.)
LB – Marques Watson-Trent, Georgia Southern (RS Jr., LB – Pittsburgh, Pa.)
LB – Jason Henderson, Old Dominion (Jr., LB – Dingmans Ferry, Pa.)
DB – Tyrek Funderburk, App State (RS Sr., DB – Indian Trail, N.C.)
DB – Micah Abraham, Marshall (RS Sr., DB – Tampa, Fla.)
DB – Jaden Voisin, South Alabama (RS Jr., DB – Crestview, Fla.)
DB – Reddy Steward, Troy (Sr., DB – Decatur, Ala.)

All-Sun Belt First Team Special Teams
K – Mason Shipley, Texas State (RS So., K – Liberty Hill, Texas)
P – William Przystup, Arkansas State (RS Sr., P – Oviedo, Fla.)
RS – Jayden Harrison, Marshall (RS Jr., RS – Antioch, Tenn.)
AP – Ismail Mahdi, Texas State (So., AP – Murphy, Texas)

All-Sun Belt Second Team Offense
QB – Joey Aguilar, App State (Jr., QB – Antioch, Calif.)
RB – Rasheen Ali, Marshall (Jr., RB – Cleveland, Ohio)
RB – Frank Gore Jr., Southern Miss (Jr., RB – Miami, Fla.)
OL – Makilan Thomas, Arkansas State (RS So., OL – Little Rock, Ark.)
OL – Rasheed Miller, Georgia Southern (RS Jr., OL – Lake Wales, Fla.)
OL – Tyler Stephens, James Madison (Jr., OL – Virginia Beach, Va.)
OL – Grant Betts, Troy (Sr., OL – Spanish Fort, Ala.)
OL – Daniel King, Troy (Jr., OL – Cairo, Ga.)
TE – Eli Wilson, App State (Jr., TE – Piedmont, S.C.)
WR – Sam Pinckney, Coastal Carolina (Super Sr., WR – Greenwood, S.C.)
WR – Khaleb Hood, Georgia Southern (5th Yr., WR – Atlanta, Ga.)
WR – Joey Hobert, Texas State (Jr., WR – San Clemente, Calif.)

All-Sun Belt Second Team Defense
DL – James Carpenter, James Madison (RS Jr., DL – Roanoke, Va.)
DL – Mikail Kamara, James Madison (RS So., DL – Ashburn, Va.)
DL – Adin Huntington, ULM (Jr., DL – Stafford, Va.)
DL – Ben Bell, Texas State (Jr., DL – Cedar Park, Texas)
DL – T.J. Jackson, Troy (Jr., DL – Milbrook, Ala.)
LB – Nate Johnson, App State (Fr., LB – Gaffney, S.C.)
LB – Quentin Wilfawn, South Alabama (RS Sr., LB – Oxford, Miss.)
LB – Brian Holloway, Texas State (RS Sr., LB – Clear Lake, Texas)
DB – Ethan Johnson, App State (So., DB – Huntersville, N.C.)
DB – Shemar Bartholomew, Georgia Southern (6th Yr., DB – Houston, Texas)
DB – D’Angelo Ponds, James Madison (Fr., DB – West Park, Fla.)
DB – Dell Pettus, Troy (Sr., DB – Harvest, Ala.)

All-Sun Belt Second Team Special Teams
K – Michael Hughes, App State (Jr., K – Charleston, W.Va.)
P – Ryan Hanson, James Madison (RS Jr., P – Elgin, Texas)
RS – Ismail Mahdi, Texas State (So., RS – Murphy, Texas)
AP – Frank Gore Jr., Southern Miss (Jr., AP – Miami, Fla.)

All-Sun Belt Third Team Offense
QB – Gunnar Watson, Troy (Sr., QB – Butler, Ga.)
RB – Jalen White, Georgia Southern (Sr., RB – Daleville, Ala.)
RB – La’Damian Webb, South Alabama (Sr., RB – Opelika, Ala.)
OL – Jack Murphy, App State (RS So., OL – Fairfax, Va.)
OL – Will McDonald, Coastal Carolina (RS Sr., OL – Matthews, N.C.)
OL – AJ Gillie, Louisiana (RS Jr., OL – Natchitoches, La.)
OL – Ethan Driskell, Marshall (RS Sr., OL – Louisville, Ky.)
OL – Brey Walker, Texas State (RS Sr., OL – Moore, Okla.)
TE – Neal Johnson, Louisiana (Sr., TE – Mesquite, Texas)
WR – Robert Lewis, Georgia State (RS Jr., WR – Covington, Ga.)
WR – Jabre Barber, Troy (Jr., WR – Dothan, Ala.)
WR – Chris Lewis, Troy (So., WR – Pleasant Grove, Ala.)

All-Sun Belt Third Team Defense
DL – Thurman Geathers, Arkansas State (RS Sr., DL – Acworth, Ga.)
DL – Isaac Walker, Georgia Southern (RS So., DL – Greensboro, N.C.)
DL – Elijah Alston, Marshall (RS Jr., DL – Chesapeake, Va.)
DL – Wy’Kevious Thomas, South Alabama (RS Jr., DL – Riverdale, Ga.)
LB – Jontrey Hunter, Georgia State (RS Sr., LB – Tampa, Fla.)
LB – Aiden Fisher, James Madison (So., LB – Fredericksburg, Va.)
LB – Eli Neal, Marshall (Sr., LB – Memphis, Tenn.)
LB – Wayne Matthews III, Old Dominion (RS So., LB – Largo, Md.)
DB – Clayton Isbell, Coastal Carolina (Super Sr., DB – St. Charles, Ill.)
DB – Gavin Pringle, Georgia State (Sr., DB – Baltimore, Md.)
DB – Yam Banks, South Alabama (Jr., DB – Ridgeland, Miss.)
DB – Irshaad Davis, Troy (Sr., DB – Carol City, Fla.)

All-Sun Belt Third Team Special Teams
K – Camden Wise, James Madison (RS Sr., K – Blacksburg, Va.)
P – John McConnell, Marshall (RS So., P – Morgantown, W.Va.)
RS – Ja’Quez Cross, Arkansas State (RS So., RS – Hampton, Ark.)
AP – Caullin Lacy, South Alabama (Jr., AP – Mobile, Ala.)

All-Sun Belt Honorable Mentions
App State
RB – Kanye Roberts (RS Fr., RB – Teachey, N.C.)
WR – Kaedin Robinson (RS Jr., WR – Asheville, N.C.)
DL – Santana Hopper (RS Fr., DL – Shelby, N.C.)
DB – Jordan Favors (RS So., DB – Griffin, Ga.)

Arkansas State
OL – Jalen Cunningham (RS Sr., OL – Odenville, Ala.)
WR – Courtney Jackson (RS Jr., WR – Monroeville, Pa.)
LB – Charles Willekes (RS Jr., LB – Rockford, Mich.)
DB – Samy Johnson (Sr., DB – Little Rock, Ark.)

Coastal Carolina
OL – Nick Del Grande (RS Fr., OL – Lancaster, Pa.)
WR – Jared Brown (RS So., WR – Lilburn, Ga.)
DL – Micheal Mason (Super Sr., DL – Florence, S.C.)
DB – Matthew McDoom (So., DB – Winter Garden, Fla.)

Georgia Southern
QB – Davis Brin (6th Yr., QB – Boerne, Texas)
TE – Jjay Mcafee (6th Yr., TE – Charleston, S.C.)
WR – Derwin Burgess Jr. (Jr., WR – Riverdale, Ga.)
DB – TJ Smith (RS Jr., DB – Atlanta, Ga.)

Georgia State
QB – Darren Grainger (RS Sr., QB – Conway, S.C.)
WR – Tailique Williams (RS Jr., WR – Pine Mountain, Ga.)
LB – Kevin Swint (Sr., LB – Carrollton, Ga.)
DB – Jeremiah Johnson (Sr., DB – Anguilla, Miss.)

James Madison
WR – Phoenix Sproles (RS Sr., WR – New Hope, Minn.)
LB – Jailin Walker (Jr., LB – Richmond, Va.)
DB – Chauncey Logan (So., DB – Salem, Va.)
DB – Francis Meehan (RS Sr., DB – Wilmington, N.C.)

Louisiana
OL – Nathan Thomas (RS Jr., OL – New Orleans, La.)
WR – Peter LeBlanc (Sr., WR – New Iberia, La.)
LB – Kendre’ Gant (Jr., LB – Port St. Joe, Fla.)
LB – K.C. Ossai (Jr., LB – Conroe, Texas)

ULM
OL – Elijah Fisher (So., OL – Allen, Texas)
OL – Zarian McGill (Jr., OL – Taylorsville, Miss.)
WR – Tyrone Howell (6th Yr., WR – Idabel, Okla.)
DL – Kenard Snyder (So., DL – Vero Beach, Fla.)

Marshall
OL – Logan Osburn (RS Jr., OL – Ona, W.Va.)
OL – Dalton Tucker (RS Sr., OL – Paris, Ky.)
DL – Sam Burton (RS Sr., DL – Boca Raton, Fla.)
DB – J.J. Roberts (RS Jr., DB – Ona, W.Va.)

Old Dominion
DL – Denzel Lowry (RS So., DL – Virginia Beach, Va.)
DB – Shawn Asbury II (Jr., DB – Stafford, Va.)
DB – LaMareon James (Jr., DB – Norfolk, Va.)
DB – Terry Jones (RS Jr., DB – Baltimore, Md.)

South Alabama
QB – Carter Bradley (Sr., QB – Jacksonville, Fla.)
OL – Reggie Smith (Sr., OL – Pensacola, Fla.)
WR – Jamaal Pritchett (So., WR – Jackson, Ala.)
LB – Trey Kiser (Sr., LB – Sulphur, Okla.)

Southern Miss
WR – Jakarius Caston (Sr., WR – Natchez, Miss.)
DL – Quentin Bivens (Sr., DL – Waynesboro, Miss.)
LB – Swayze Bozeman (RS Sr., LB – Flora, Miss.)
DB – Jay Stanley (Sr., DB – Greenwood, Miss.)

Texas State
QB – TJ Finley (RS So., QB – Ponchatoula, La.)
WR – Ashtyn Hawkins (Jr., WR – DeSoto, Texas)
WR – Kole Wilson (So., WR – Katy, Texas)
DB – Shawn Holton (Sr., DB – Fort Worth, Texas)

Troy
DL – Buddha Jones (Sr., DL – Tallahassee, Fla.)
DB – O’shai Fletcher (Sr., DB – Huntsville, Ala.)
DB – Caleb Ransaw (Jr., DB – Harvest, Ala.)
LS – Quentin Skinner (Sr., LS – Buford, Ga.)

Three of our starting OL made a team, two on the first team. A little surprised Kaedin Robinson was only HM. But otherwise, hard to complain. Obviously, if we had played the whole season like the last five games, we might have seen some more of our guys on one of the first three teams. I know some folks are going to complain that JA was only second team, but given the season that JMU had no real surprise that McCloud made first team. I'm not sure he would have been my POY though.

JMU had the most on first team, six. App and Troy had four.

Don't know the Texas State kicker's stats but he must have had a great year to be a first team selection over Hughes.

appfanjj wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 30, 2023 12:09 pm

Don't know the Texas State kicker's stats but he must have had a great year to be a first team selection over Hughes.

Kathy Ireland right? No brainer, first team.

hapapp wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 30, 2023 11:45 am

Three of our starting OL made a team, two on the first team. A little surprised Kaedin Robinson was only HM. But otherwise, hard to complain. Obviously, if we had played the whole season like the last five games, we might have seen some more of our guys on one of the first three teams. I know some folks are going to complain that JA was only second team, but given the season that JMU had no real surprise that McCloud made first team. I'm not sure he would have been my POY though.

JMU had the most on first team, six. App and Troy had four.

We definitely would have seen more had we played like this the whole time. I told Moose in DM earlier this week that I expected 10-14 and was interested to see who our 2nd and 3rd OL would be.

Robinson on the HM is a surprise but Lewis and Barber at Troy are studs and to only be on the 3rd team shows you how good the WR group is in the league.

I know injury hurt Nate but you would think he would make it most years. The issue is the RB class is so deep in the league.

Can't complain about where they had Aguilar. Most who pay attention felt like McCloud would get it. This is the best 1-2 QB group the Sun Belt has ever had I think. Watson would have made 2nd or 1st team in many years prior.

Notice that McCall is missing from the list this year? Keep in mind that coaches pick their own players for honorable mention so that was kind of a statement by the HC at CCU.

appfanjj wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 30, 2023 12:09 pm

Don't know the Texas State kicker's stats but he must have had a great year to be a first team selection over Hughes.

He went 14 of 14 on FGs. Hard to beat out someone who was perfect to get first-team.

RS Seniors are graduating, right?

Hard to believe we did not have a WR on 1st, 2nd, 3rd team or HM
Milan Tucker not on Special Teams as a returner on any team or HM

Before the season began I would not have believed this
Also would have thought Nate Noel would be front and center

Guess Robinson did make HM at WR
Deserved at least that

appfanjj wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 30, 2023 4:48 pm

Guess Robinson did make HM at WR
Deserved at least that

Injuries hurt Nate. I think if Robinson had turned it on maybe 2 weeks earlier he would have been second team. He has been a top 3 WR in the SBC the last 3 weeks.

I was slightly surprised at Milan but he did not have a TD and there are several good KRs in the league.

JMU was loaded.

One really stands out to me Kaiden Robinson should be a first team receiver

Mjohn1988 wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 30, 2023 9:22 pm

One really stands out to me Kaiden Robinson should be a first team receiver

I agree or at least think he should be a 2nd team pick but there are two reasons why this happens. He was not consistent the entire year. He had little or average production against CCU, Southern Miss, Marshall, and Ga State and then those who did not see him likely had him middle of the road due to overall numbers. He led the league in TDs but was 12th in receiving yards, 11th in catches, and 12th in yards per game. I think Lacy and Sarratt had to be first-team but past that I think there is debate for everyone. Keep an eye on Lewis at Troy. It is hard to believe he was just 3rd team but it goes to show that the league is stacked at WR.

Comeback Player of the Year: App. St. Uni Reveal Video Team!!
Tweetsie
Cone Manor
Gem Mine

I think it's a combination of having a really good QB who spreads the love to a deep receiver and TE group. We also showed to, at times have a deep running back group. Our coaches know this and try to involve as many of these players as possible. We never did a Ga State and give the ball to one back like 40 times especially in a losing effort.