Cajuns, Warhawks Tabbed Preseason Sun Belt Favorites; Browning, Jackson Preseason Players of the Year - See more at: http://www.sunbeltsports.org/SPORTS/Mens...ZpDp3.dpuf

NEW ORLEANS – Much of the chatter this offseason around the Sun Belt Conference has been focused on the lack of a clear-cut favorite headed in to the 2013 football season. The 2013 Preseason Coaches Poll released Monday at the league’s annual media day might only further the talk.

Louisiana-Lafayette and Louisiana-Monroe both earned 57 total points in the combined voting of the eight league head coaches. That makes the two instate rivals co-preseason favorites – a fact that will surely spark debate amongst league fans between now and the start of the season. The Cajuns did secure four first place votes, while the Warhawks had two. However, ULM’s star quarterback Kolton Browning leads the Preseason All-Sun Belt team in being named the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year.

While the two Louisiana foes topped the preseason poll, two time defending champion Arkansas State was picked third with 45 total points and the Red Wolves had two first place votes of their own. Despite the third place nod, ASU had the most players selected to the Preseason All-Conference team with seven total selections.

While ASU earned 45 points, the Bobby Petrino led WKU Hilltoppers trail by only one point for fourth place with 44 points. The Hilltoppers had the second highest amount of selections on the preseason all-conference team with five. Among the WKU selections for individual preseason honors was linebacker Andrew Jackson who was also named the league’s Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.

Troy was chosen as the fifth team in the poll with league newcomer Texas State in sixth, South Alabama in seventh and Football Bowl Subdivision first year participant Georgia State in eighth. Both Troy and USA had three selections on the preseason team.

2013 Preseason Sun Belt Poll
As voted on by the league’s eight head coaches.
First place votes in parentheses.

School


Points (First Place Votes)

T-1. Louisiana-Lafayette


57 (4)

T-1. ULM


57 (2)

3. Arkansas State


45 (2)

4. WKU


44

5. Troy


35

6. Texas State


23

7. South Alabama


19

8. Georgia State


8

2013 Preseason All-Sun Belt Team
As voted on by the league’s eight head coaches and eight selected media members.

Offense
Kolton Browning (Louisiana-Monroe, Sr., QB)
David Oku (Arkansas State, Sr., RB)
Antonio Andrews (WKU, Sr., RB)
J.D. McKissic (Arkansas State, So., WR)
Je’Ron Hamm (ULM, Sr., WR)
Eric Thomas (Troy, Sr. WR)
Wes Saxton (South Alabama, Jr., TE)
Bryce Giddens (Arkansas State, So., OL)
Andre Huval (Louisiana-Lafayette, Sr., OL)
Josh Allen (Louisiana-Monroe, Sr., OL)
Terrence Jones (Troy, Jr., OL)
Sean Conway (WKU, Sr., OL)

Defense
Ryan Carrethers (Arkansas State, Sr., DL)
Christian Ringo (Louisiana-Lafayette, Jr., DL)
Kentarius Caldwell (Louisiana-Monroe, Sr., DL)
Alex Page (South Alabama, Sr., DL)
Qushaun Lee (Arkansas State, Jr., LB)
Justin Anderson (Louisiana-Lafayette, Sr., LB)
Andrew Jackson (WKU, Jr., LB)
Sterling Young (Arkansas State, Jr., DB)
Isaiah Newsome (Louisiana-Monroe, Sr., DB)
Tyrell Pearson (South Alabama, Sr., DB)
Jonathan Dowling (WKU, Sr., DB)

Special Teams
Brian Davis (Arkansas State, Sr., K)
Will Scott (Troy, Sr., P)
Antonio Andrews (WKU, Sr., Return Specialist)

Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Kolton Browning (Louisiana-Monroe, Sr., QB)

Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Andrew Jackson (WKU, Jr., LB)
- See more at: http://www.sunbeltsports.org/SPORTS/Mens...ZpDp3.dpuf