The Sun Belt routinely earns its moniker as the “Fun Belt” by providing us with great matchups and classic clashes fuelled by some of the most entertaining players in the nation. The conference is once again primed to light up our fall Saturdays, and the All-Sun Belt teams and individual honors provide a guide to the players you should be watching out for this season.
Follow along with each of our All-Conference honors as well as our National Honors this offseason: All-Americans | AAC | ACC | B1G | Big 12 | Conference USA | MAC |Mountain West | Pac-12 | SEC | FBS Independent
Preseason Sun Belt Football Team Honors for 2023
- Player of the Year
Jason Henderson, LB, ODU - Offensive Player of the Year
Jordan McCloud, QB, Texas State - Defensive Player of the Year
Jason Henderson, LB, ODU - Specialist of the Year
Ryan Hanson, P, JMU - Newcomer of the Year
Jordan McCloud, QB, Texas State - Coach of the Year
GJ Kinne, Texas State - Offensive Transfer of the Year
Jordan McCloud, QB, Texas State - Defensive Transfer of the Year
Javon Denis, EDGE, Georgia State - Impact Freshman of the Year
Jaylen Boardley, RB, Arkansas State
Preseason Sun Belt Offense
- Quarterback of the Year
Jordan McCloud, Texas State - Running Back of the Year
Ismail Mahdi, Texas State - Wide Receiver of the Year
Jamaal Pritchett, South Alabama - Tight End of the Year
Eli Wilson, Appalachian State - Honorary Offensive Tackle of the Year
Jack Murphy, Appalachian State - Offensive Guard of the Year
Tellek Lockette, Texas State - Center of the Year
Jacob Bayer, Arkansas State - Offensive Lineman of the Year
Tellek Lockette, OG, Texas State - Offensive Line of the Year
Texas State - Offensive Newcomer of the Year
Tellek Lockette, OG, Texas State
Preseason First-Team All-Sun Belt Offense
QB: Jordan McCloud, Texas State
RB: Ismail Mahdi, Texas State
RB: Jalen White, Georgia Southern
WR: Jamaal Pritchett, South Alabama
WR: Joey Hobert, Texas State
WR: Kaedin Robinson, Appalachian State
TE: Eli Wilson, Appalachian State
FLEX: Braydon Bennett, Coastal Carolina
OT: Tyshawn Wyatt, James Madison
OG: Cole Potts, James Madison
OC: Jacob Bayer, Arkansas State
OG: Tellek Lockette, Texas State
OT: Makilan Thomas, Arkansas State
OT: Jack Murphy, Appalachian State (Honorary)
Preseason Second-Team All-Sun Belt Offense
QB: Joey Aguilar, Appalachian State
RB: Ayo Adeyi, James Madison
RB: Ja’Quez Cross, Arkansas State
WR: Kole Wilson, Texas State
WR: Derwin Burgess Jr., Georgia Southern
WR: Courtney Jackson, Arkansas State
TE: DJ Thomas-Jones, South Alabama
FLEX: Dalton Stroman, Appalachian State
OT: Nash Jones, Texas State
OG: A.J. Gillie, Louisiana
OC: Landon Burton, Louisiana
OG: Daniel King, Troy
OT: George Jackson, Louisiana
Preseason Third-Team All-Sun Belt Offense
QB: Jaylen Raynor, Arkansas State
RB: Deion Hankins, Texas State
RB: Dre’lyn Washington, Louisiana
WR: Dalen Cobb, Georgia Southern
WR: Corey Rucker, Arkansas State
WR: Christan Horn, Appalachian State
TE: Terrance Carter, Louisiana
FLEX: Kanye Roberts, Appalachian State
OT: Nick Del Grande, Coastal Carolina
OG: Elijah Fisher, UL-Monroe
OC: Logan Osburn, Marshall
OG: Mehki Butler, Arkansas State
OT: Jimeto Obigbo, Texas State
Preseason Honorable Mention All-Sun Belt Offense
QB: Tate Rodemaker, Southern Miss
RB: Zak Wallace, Arkansas State
WR: Chris Lewis, Troy
WR: Tailique Williams, Georgia State
WR: Devonte Ross, Troy
TE: Kendell Karr, Coastal Carolina
OG: Trevor Timmons, Georgia State
OC: Zac Elam, Coastal Carolina
OG: Jax Harrington, Louisiana
Preseason Sun Belt Defense
- Defensive Lineman of the Year
Ben Bell, EDGE, Texas State - EDGE Defender of the Year
Ben Bell, Texas State - Interior Defender of the Year
Justin Rhodes, Georgia Southern - Linebacker of the Year
Jason Henderson, ODU - Cornerback of the Year
Keyon Martin, Louisiana - Safety of the Year
Jaden Voisin, South Alabama - Defensive Line of the Year
Georgia Southern - Secondary of the Year
Georgia State - Defensive Newcomer of the Year
Jordan Mahoney, DB, Arkansas State
Preseason First-Team All-Sun Belt Defense
EDGE: Ben Bell, Texas State
DT: Justin Rhodes, Georgia Southern
DT: Wy’Kevious Thomas, South Alabama
EDGE: Nate Johnson, Appalachian State
LB: Jason Henderson, Old Dominion
LB: Marques Watson-Trent, Georgia Southern
LB: K.C. Ossai, Louisiana
CB: Keyon Martin, Louisiana
CB: Ethan Johnson, Appalachian State
CB: Matthew McDoom, Coastal Carolina
S: Jaden Voisin, South Alabama
S: J.J. Roberts, Marshall
FLEX: Chauncey Logan, James Madison
Preseason Second-Team All-Sun Belt Defense
EDGE: Isaac Walker, Georgia Southern
DT: Henry Bryant III, Georgia State
DT: Santana Hopper, Appalachian State
EDGE: Mike Green, Marshall
LB: Charles Willekes, Arkansas State
LB: Justin Abraham, Georgia State
LB: Max Harris, Texas State
CB: Gavin Pringle, Georgia State
CB: Ricky Fletcher, South Alabama
CB: David Godsey Jr., UL-Monroe
S: Tyrone Lewis Jr., Louisiana
S: Kaleb Culp, Texas State
FLEX: Cameron Whitfield, Louisiana
Preseason Third-Team All-Sun Belt Defense
EDGE: Michael Fletcher, Appalachian State
DT: TyQaze Leggs, Marshall
DT: Denzel Lowry, Old Dominion
EDGE: Jordan Lawson, Louisiana
LB: Jordan Stringer, Troy
LB: Wyatt Gedeon, Coastal Carolina
LB: Carl Glass Jr., UL-Monroe
CB: Chris Mills, Texas State
CB: Michael Caraway Jr., Southern Miss
CB: Joshua Eaton, Texas State
S: Jeremiah Johnson, Georgia State
S: Trevian Thomas, Arkansas State
FLEX: T.J. Smith, Georgia Southern
Preseason Honorable Mention All-Sun Belt Defense
EDGE: Kevin Swint, Georgia State
DT: Tavian Coleman, Texas State
DT: Elhadj Fall, Georgia Southern
EDGE: Kris Trinidad, Old Dominion
LB: Dane Motley, Arkansas State
LB: Josiah Robinson, Georgia State
CB: Josh Moten, Marshall
CB: Rasheed Reason, Old Dominion
CB: Izaiah Guy, Georgia State
DB: Jordan Mahoney, Arkansas State
S: Tyrell Davis, Georgia Southern
Preseason Sun Belt Special Teams
- Kicker of the Year
Michael Hughes, Appalachian State - Punter of the Year
Ryan Hanson, JMU - Kick Returner of the Year
Zylan Perry, Louisiana - Punt Returner of the Year
Tiaquelin Mims, Southern Miss - Special Teamer of the Year
Tavian Coleman, Texas State - Kickoff Specialist of the Year
Scott Taylor Renfroe, Troy
Preseason First-Team All-Sun Belt Specialists
PK: Michael Hughes, Appalachian State
KOS: Scott Taylor Renfroe, Troy
P: Ryan Hanson, James Madison
KR: Zylan Perry, Louisiana
PR: Tiaquelin Mims, Southern Miss
ST: Tavian Coleman, Texas State
Preseason Second-Team All-Sun Belt Specialists
PK: Mason Shipley, Texas State
KOS: Liam Gray, Coastal Carolina
P: Robert Cole, Troy
KR: Kole Wilson, Texas State
PR: Courtney Jackson, Arkansas State
ST: Avery Sledge, Southern Miss
Preseason Third-Team All-Sun Belt Specialists
PK: Kenneth Almendares, Louisiana
KOS: Braeden McAlister, Georgia State
P: Bryce Lofton, Southern Miss
KR: DeAndre Buchannon, Georgia Southern
PR: Isiah Paige, Old Dominion
ST: Dalen Cambre, Louisiana
Preseason Honorable Mention All-Sun Belt Specialists
PK: Scott Taylor Renfroe, Troy
KOS: Connor Gibbs, Southern Miss
P: Braxton Guilbeau, Louisiana
KR: Ja’Quez Cross, Arkansas State
PR: Jamaal Pritchett, South Alabama
ST: AJ Beale, Arkansas State
Congratulations to all those players selected. For any questions regarding these selections or the process behind them, feel free to email them to me or ask on Twitter (@CamMellor).
* A note from above: CFN posthumously honors Appalachian State OT Jack Murphy, who tragically passed away earlier this summer. Jack was a stalwart tackle on the Mountaineers’ offensive line who deserves his place among the best players in college football as that’s what he would have been this season.