Topic: Sun Belt Football Preseason Awards & Poll

[GoHerd35]

https://x.com/SunBelt/status/1815431744545263956

2024 SUN BELT CONFERENCE FOOTBALL PRESEASON AWARDS
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Joey Aguilar, App State (Sr., QB ? Antioch, Calif.)
 
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Jason Henderson, Old Dominion (Sr., LB ? Dingmans Ferry, Pa.)
 
Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team Offense^
QB ? Joey Aguilar, App State (Sr., QB ? Antioch, Calif.)
QB ? Jordan McCloud, Texas State (RS Sr., QB ? Tampa, Fla.)
RB ? Jalen White, Georgia Southern (5th Yr., RB ? Daleville, Ala.)
RB ? Ismail Mahdi, Texas State (Jr., RB ? Murphy, Texas)
OL ? Jacob Bayer, Arkansas State (Sr., OL ? Grandview, Texas)
OL ? Makilan Thomas, Arkansas State (RS Jr., OL ? Little Rock, Ark.)
OL ? Cole Potts, James Madison (Sr., OL ? Johnstown, Ohio)
OL ? AJ Gillie, Louisiana (RS Sr., OL ? Natchitoches, La.)
OL ? Daniel King, Troy (Sr., OL ? Cairo, Ga.)
TE ?  Eli Wilson, App State (Sr., TE ? Piedmont, S.C.)
WR ? Kaedin Robinson, App State (RS Sr., WR ? Asheville, N.C.)
WR ? Derwin Burgess Jr., Georgia Southern (Sr., WR ? Riverdale, Ga.)
WR ? Joey Hobert, Texas State (Sr., WR ? San Clemente, Calif.)
 
Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team Defense
DL ? Santana Hopper, App State (RS So., DL ? Shelby, N.C.)
DL ? Nate Martey, Arkansas State (Sr., DL ? Ottawa, Ontario, Canada)
DL ? Justin Rhodes, Georgia Southern (5th Yr., DL ? Durham, N.C.)
DL ? Isaac Walker, Georgia Southern (RS Jr., DL ? Greensboro, N.C.)
LB ? Nate Johnson, App State (So., LB ? Gaffney, S.C.)
LB ? Marques Watson-Trent, Georgia Southern (RS Sr., LB ? Pittsburgh, Pa.)
LB ? Jason Henderson, Old Dominion (Sr., LB ? Dingmans Ferry, Pa.)
LB ? Ben Bell, Texas State (Sr., LB ? Cedar Park, Texas)
DB ? Jordan Favors, App State (RS Jr., DB ? Griffin, Ga.)
DB ? Ethan Johnson, App State (Jr., DB ? Huntersville, N.C.)
DB ? Gavin Pringle, Georgia State (RS Sr., DB ? Baltimore, Md.)
DB ? Jaden Voisin, South Alabama (RS Sr., DB ? Crestview, Fla.)
 
Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team Special Teams
K ? Mason Shipley, Texas State (RS Jr., K ? Liberty Hill, Texas)
P ? Ryan Hanson, James Madison (RS Sr., P ? Elgin, Texas)
RS ? Zylan Perry, Louisiana (RS So., RS ? Franklin, La.)
AP ? Ismail Mahdi, Texas State (Jr., AP ? Murphy, Texas)
 
Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team Offense^
QB ? Jaylen Raynor, Arkansas State (So., QB ? Kernersville, N.C.)
RB ? Kanye Roberts, App State (RS So., RB ? Wallace, N.C.)
RB ? Ja?Quez Cross, Arkansas State (RS Jr., RB ? Hampton, Ark.)
OL ? Chandler Strong, Georgia Southern (RS So., OL ? Warner Robins, Ga.)
OL ? Pichon Wimbley, Georgia Southern (Jr., OL ? Newnan, Ga.)
OL ? Tyshawn Wyatt, James Madison (Sr., OL ? Richmond, Va.)
OL ? Logan Osburn, Marshall (RS Sr., OL ? Ona, W.Va.)
OL ? Eli Russ, Troy (Jr., OL ? Ardmore, Okla.)
TE ? Kendall Karr, Coastal Carolina (RS Sr., TE ? Belmont, N.C.)
WR ? Courtney Jackson, Arkansas State (RS Sr., WR ? Monroeville, Pa.)
WR ? Corey Rucker, Arkansas State (RS Jr., WR ? Bentonia, Miss.)
WR ? Jamaal Pritchett, South Alabama (Sr., WR ? Jackson, Ala.)
WR ? Kole Wilson, Texas State (Jr., WR ? Katy, Texas)
 
Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team Defense
DL ? Will Whitson, Coastal Carolina (Gr., DL ? Cincinnati, Ohio)
DL ? Eric O?Neill, James Madison (RS Jr., DL ? Staten Island, N.Y.)
DL ? Jordan Lawson, Louisiana (RS Jr., DL ? Brandon, Miss.)
DL ? Denzel Lowry, Old Dominion (RS Jr., DL ? Virginia Beach, Va.)
DL ? Wy?Kevious Thomas, South Alabama (RS Sr., DL ? Riverdale, Ga.)
LB ? Charles Willekes, Arkansas State (RS Sr., LB ? Rockford, Mich.)
LB ? Kevin Swint, Georgia State (Sr., LB ? Carrollton, Ga.)
LB ? KC Ossai, Louisiana (Sr., LB ? Conroe, Texas)
DB ? TJ Smith, Georgia Southern (RS Sr., DB ? Atlanta, Ga.)
DB ? Chauncey Logan, James Madison (Jr., DB ? Salem, Va.)
DB ? Tyrone Lewis Jr., Louisiana (RS Sr., DB ? Hammond, La.)
DB ? Kaleb Culp, Texas State (Sr., DB ? Dallas, Texas)
 
Preseason All-Sun Belt Second Team Special Teams
K ? Michael Hughes, App State (Sr., K ? Charleston, W.Va.)
P ? Robert Cole, Troy (Sr., P ? Coral Springs, Fla.)
RS ? DeAndre Buchannon, Georgia Southern (So., RS ? Atlanta, Ga.)
AP ? Ja?Quez Cross, Arkansas State (RS Jr., AP ? Hampton, Ark.)
 
^ Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team & Second Team Offense Expanded Due to Ties in Voting
 
2024 SUN BELT CONFERENCE FOOTBALL PRESEASON COACHES POLL
East Division
1. App State ? 96 Points (12)
2. James Madison ? 79 Points (2)
3. Coastal Carolina ? 67 Points
4. Georgia Southern ? 50 Points
5. Marshall ? 49 Points
6. Old Dominion ? 32 Points
7. Georgia State ? 19 Points
 
West Division
1. Texas State ? 92 Points (9)
2. Troy ? 68 Points (4)
3. Louisiana ? 66 Points (1)
4. Arkansas State ? 65 Points
5. South Alabama ? 54 Points
6. Southern Miss ? 31 Points
7. ULM ? 16 Points

[andy31]

Well, all I can say is I hope we prove them wrong.

[svherd]

Pretty sad. Time for a new staff in 2025!

[HerdEcon]

How does the Sun Belt determine which players get chosen for pre-season all conference recognition?  Coaches, conference administrators, fans, etc.

We bring in highly regarded recruiting classes but that does not seem to be equating to wins or respect from whoever is handing out pre-season and post season all conference awards. 

We had only one player chosen on the 2 deep for pre-season all conference recognition by the conference.  Thank you Logan Osborne, without you Marshall would have been shut out of the two deep. 

I know these pre-season all conferences awards are meaningless but it would be nice to see our players getting a little respect. 

[Garbanjo]

Pretty sad. Time for a new staff in 2025!

Fluff the "great" recruiter stacking the talent 😂

Total rebuild after we fire this BS artist after this year

😐

[herd2win]

Picked 5th in the East.  That result will lead to a new HC next year.  I believe we will be barking it out for East title and finish 2nd at worst.  We have key games at home.

[herdorbust2]

I thought you had to play the games. But I guess we just go by prognosticators now?

[herdloyal]

Here is a thought?Doc left much to be done in my opinion! I also believe there is a bias underneath that is noticeable! Huff has changed the program.

[MUther]

Fluff the "great" recruiter stacking the talent 😂

Total rebuild after we fire this BS artist after this year

😐

broken record.  We are new to the Sun Belt.  We aren't going to get a lot of respect from their club members until we take it from them.  We have one good year and one bad.  At least, for the first time, we know changes will be made unless this year is outstanding.  What's the point of slinging sh_t? 

[coalherd]

Pretty sad. Time for a new staff in 2025!

Yep, 5th in the SBC East just ain't gonna cut it in, what, Year 3 or 4 under this Staff.  And, if anywhere "Valid", having ONE HERD player on the 2 Deep All Conference Squads, O & D, is a pretty "damning indictment" of this Staff's recruiting efforts to date!!!

[BigJimslade]

The Herd appears to majorly suck

[Herdalum83]

This team won't win 5 games this year

[chris88]

Not sure how much stock i'd put into these rankings.

Georgia Southern has 9 players on teams yet are picked 4th in division (1 pt ahead of Marshall) and 9th in SBC. Arkansas state also has a whopping 9 players on 1st/2nd teams yet are picked 4th in division and 7th best in SB.  The 9 ties those two with App State for the most. They either have a horrible staffs or there is serious disconnect with reality.

JMU has 5 and Troy has 3 and both were picked 2nd in division and in top 4 in SBC

[whf]

All i can say is that if this comes true, it will be the darkest days in MU football since the rebuild started after the plane crash. I don't believe this for a minute, and certainly pray I'm not proven wrong.  I know from his own mouth that our head coach has very high expectations and aspirations for this coming season.  He would be foolish to speak the way he did if this is the best he has in store for his team and the fans.

[MicDrass1]

Bulletin Board Material

[elginherd]

All i can say is that if this comes true, it will be the darkest days in MU football since the rebuild started after the plane crash. I don't believe this for a minute, and certainly pray I'm not proven wrong.  I know from his own mouth that our head coach has very high expectations and aspirations for this coming season.  He would be foolish to speak the way he did if this is the best he has in store for his team and the fans.

If I'm not mistaken, Coach Huff claimed that the recruiting class of 2022 was the best in Herd history. Somehow I don't recall the Herd threatening to win the conference.

[Garbanjo]

All i can say is that if this comes true, it will be the darkest days in MU football since the rebuild started after the plane crash. I don't believe this for a minute, and certainly pray I'm not proven wrong.  I know from his own mouth that our head coach has very high expectations and aspirations for this coming season.  He would be foolish to speak the way he did if this is the best he has in store for his team and the fans.

Dude is a BS artist

[BigJimslade]

This team won't win 5 games this year

I tend to agree

[svherd]

All i can say is that if this comes true, it will be the darkest days in MU football since the rebuild started after the plane crash. I don't believe this for a minute, and certainly pray I'm not proven wrong.  I know from his own mouth that our head coach has very high expectations and aspirations for this coming season.  He would be foolish to speak the way he did if this is the best he has in store for his team and the fans.

Frank Ellwood was brimming with confidence as well. We know how that turned out.

[MicDrass1]

This years team will play its best fb last 1/3 of the season. 

[elginherd]

This years team will play its best fb last 1/3 of the season.

Assuming that whoever is QB#1 is healthy and actually good, I can see that scenario.

If that scenario plays out,  the problem will be that the record will be 7-5, maybe 8-4, without a chance to win the SBC.

[Garbanjo]

Assuming that whoever is QB#1 is healthy and actually good, I can see that scenario.

If that scenario plays out,  the problem will be that the record will be 7-5, maybe 8-4, without a chance to win the SBC.

Not good enough

We put Doc out to get better, not do similar or perhaps worse

Spears has to make a great hire or Herd football is in trouble

[herd1990]

Assuming that whoever is QB#1 is healthy and actually good, I can see that scenario.

If that scenario plays out,  the problem will be that the record will be 7-5, maybe 8-4, without a chance to win the SBC.

Just in time to finish 5-7 or 4-8.  I've seen enough.  Next please.

[herd2win]

I am ready for football.  Tough schedule but also a fun schedule.  2 big time road games at OSU and Va Tech and then good conference rival home games.

I am hoping for 7-5.  The fact Huff wasn't given even a 2 year extension leads that this may be his last season.  He can make same money now as a position coach at some of the P2 schools.

[coalherd]

I am ready for football.  Tough schedule but also a fun schedule.  2 big time road games at OSU and Va Tech and then good conference rival home games.

I am hoping for 7-5.  The fact Huff wasn't given even a 2 year extension leads that this may be his last season.  He can make same money now as a position coach at some of the P2 schools.

Well, herd2win, what he is "making" currently at MU isn't exactly "Chump Change".   Whether he is "earning" what he is getting at MU is another story!!